University of the

West of England

MODULE SPECIFICATION

Code: USPJLP-10-M Title: Research Methods in Counselling Psychology Version: 1

Level: UWE credit rating: ECTS credit rating: 5

Module type:

Owning Faculty: Health and Life Sciences Field:

Faculty Committee approval: SLS Q&S Committee (School of Life Sciences) Date: June 2010

Approved for Delivery by: N/A

Valid from: September 2010 Discontinued from:

Pre-requisites:

      USPJF4-20-M Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Psychology

Co-requisites:

      None

Entry Requirements:

N/A

Excluded Combinations:

None

Learning Outcomes:

The student will be able to:

• demonstrate a comprehensive awareness of the quantitative and qualitative methods in relation to the professions of counselling psychology, psychotherapy and counselling;

• critically evaluate research within the context of the aforementioned professions.

Syllabus Outline:

The syllabus will focus on aiding students in developing a critical understanding of research in the field as well as how research methods have been used to answer field-relevant questions. Topics may include: history of research in the field, evaluation research, process research, research on therapist, client and relationship variables, as well as ethical aspects of researching therapeutic practice.

Teaching and Learning Methods:

The teaching and learning methods will comprise a mixture of methods, including framework setting lectures and interactive, tutor-led workshops.

Research examples will be used to generate discussion and the development of critical awareness.

Teaching will be predominantly problem-based so that students will have opportunities to re-design existing research and to generate research approaches to given examples.

Reading Strategy:

All students will be encouraged to make full use of the print and electronic resources available to them through membership of the University. These include a range of electronic journals and a wide variety of resources available through web sites and information gateways. The University Library’s web pages provide access to subject relevant resources and services, and to the library catalogue. Many resources can be accessed remotely. Students will be presented with opportunities within the curriculum to develop their information retrieval and evaluation skills in order to identify such resources effectively.

Any essential reading will be indicated clearly, along with the method for accessing it, e.g. students may be expected to purchase a set text, be given or sold a print study pack or be referred to texts that are available electronically, etc. This guidance will be available either in the module handbook, via the module information on Blackboard or through any other vehicle deemed appropriate by the module/programme leaders.

If further reading is expected, this will be indicated clearly. If specific texts are listed, a clear indication will be given regarding how to access them and, if appropriate, students will be given guidance on how to identify relevant sources for themselves, e.g. through use of bibliographical databases.

Indicative Reading List:

    Castonguay, Louis, G. & Beutler, Larry, E. (2006). Principals of therapeutic change that work. Oxford University Press.

    Cooper, Mick (2008). Essential research findings in Counselling and Psychotherapy: The facts are friendly. Sage

    Heppner, Paul. P., Wampold Bruce, E. & Kivlighan, Dennis, M. (2008). Research Design in Counselling, 3rd Edition. Brooks/Cole.

    Lambert, Michael J. ((2004). Bergin and Garfield’s Handbook of Psychotherapy and Behavior Change (5th Ed.). John Wiley: New York.

    Lepper, Georgina. & Riding, Nick (2006. Researching the psychotherapy process: A practical guide to the transcript based methods. Palgrave MacMillan.

    McLeod, John. (2003). Doing counselling research (2nd ed.). London: Sage.

    McLeod, John. (2001). Qualitative research in counselling and psychotherapy. London: Sage.

    Norcross, John. C. (2002). Psychotherapy Relationships that Work: Therapist contributions and responsiveness to patients. Oxford University Press.

    Roth, Anthony, Fonagy, Peter (2005). What works for whom?: A critical review of psychtoehrapy research, 2nd Edition. Guidlford Press.

    Rowland, N. & Goss, S. (Eds.). (2000). Evidence-based counselling and psychological therapies: Research and applications. Routledge: London.

    Timulak, Ladislav. (2008). Resaerch in Psychotherapy and Counselling, 2nd Ed. Sage.

    Wilson, J. E. & Syme, G. (2006). Objectives and outcomes: Questioning the practice of therapy. Maidenhead, Buckingham: Open University Press.

Assessment:

Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only) A: 100% B: %

FIRST ATTEMPT

First Assessment Opportunity

Component A (controlled) Element Wt (Ratio)

Description of each element (within Component)

EX1

Examination (2 hours)

 

1

 

Students will be asked to write a critique of TWO provided research articles; the articles will be provided 2 weeks prior to the exam.

  

  

 

  

    

 

  

  

  

 

  

  

  

Component B Element Wt (Ratio)

Description of each element (within Component)

   

    

   

  

  

   

  

  

   

  

  

   

  

  

Second Assessment Opportunity (Resit) further attendance at taught classes

Component A (controlled) Element Wt (Ratio)

Description of each element (within Component)

EX1

Examination (2 hours)

 

1

 

Students will be asked to write a critique of TWO provided research articles; the articles will be provided 2 weeks prior to the exam.

  

  

 

  

  

  

 

  

  

  

 

  

  

  

Component B Element Wt (Ratio)

Description of each element (within Component)

 

  

    

 

  

  

  

 

  

  

  

 

  

  

  

 

  

  

  

EXCEPTIONAL SECOND ATTEMPT Attendance at taught classes .

Specification confirmed by …………………………………………………Date ……………………………

(Associate Dean/Programme Director)

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