Purpose: The purpose of the assignment is for students to review a recent (within the past five years) qualitative study focused on a population or presenting problem of relevance to counseling psychology and of interest to the student. The chosen study must use individual, in-depth, qualitative interviewing as the method of data collection.
The first part of the paper will identify the study’s main research question or objective, the rationale provided for why the question or objective is important to address, the sampling methods used, sample description, the key findings, the study limitations and questions for future research.
The second part of the paper will propose a new study that would add to or build onto what the current study learned. This could involve interviewing individuals related to those in the study and/or adding a set of questions that were not asked in the original study. Describe how findings from the proposed new study could be useful for mental health counselors.
Tasks: To complete this assignment you should:
1. Conduct a literature search using keywords relevant to your chosen population and/or presenting problem. Limit the search to studies published in peer-reviewed journals within the last 5 years. Make sure that the study uses individual, in-depth , qualitative interviewing as the method of data collection. This methodology is similar to the Hahm and Davis studies we discussed in class.
2. Read the chosen article to identify the study’s main research question or objective, the rationale provided for why the question or objective is important to address, the sampling methods used, sample description, the key findings, and the study limitations and questions for future research.
3. Think about how you might add to or build onto what the current study learned. What questions did it leave unanswered that you think would be interesting to pursue? This could involve interviewing individuals related to those in the study and/or adding a set of questions that were not asked in the original study.
4. Consider how findings from the proposed new study could be useful for mental health counselors.
5. Write a two-page paper, single-spaced and in Times New Roman 12-point font. The two-page paper should include the following three sections: (1) Qualitative Study Review; (2) Proposed Study; and (3) Lessons for Mental Health Counselors.
6. References can be included on a third page. Follow the general APA guidelines for constructing a reference list found here:
https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/05/
Criteria for Success: Each paper will be graded using the following rubric. Please use the headings provided above (Qualitative Study Review; Proposed Study; Lessons for Mental Health Counselors) to organize the paper.
a. Title – Create a title that captures the focus of the paper (5 points)
b. Qualitative Study Review (35 points) – Describe the following aspects of the study selected. Use your own words to indicate how and why the study was conducted rather than quoting from the study itself. Be sure to include the following:
i. Main research question(s) and objective
ii. Reasons provided for why the question/objective needs to be investigated
iii. Descriptions of the interviews- where, how long, and types of questions asked
iv. Sampling methods used
v. Sample description
vi. Key findings
vii. Study limitations and questions for future research
c. Proposed Study (30 points) – Describe how the proposed study will add to or build onto what the current study learned. Include the following:
i. What unanswered research questions or new perspective will the proposed study investigate?
ii. Who would be recruited to participate in the study and, generally, how you would recruit them.
iii. Identify three main topics that the study would gather data on
d. Lessons for Mental Health Counselors (15 points)
i. Describe two ways in which the findings from the proposed study could be useful for mental health counselors.
e. Overall quality (10 points) – The clarity of the writing, logic and flow of the paper will be assessed as well as adherence to the specified instructions and APA formatting.
