MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY AND COUNSELING
COURSE SYLLABUS
PSCO/MFCC 6345 RESEARCH AND STATISTIC METHODS
COURSE DESCRIPTION
6345 research and statistic methods. Three (3) semester hours.
The goal of this course is to introduce the student to the concepts and techniques of
research used in counselor education. The course is designed to be theoretical and
applied. Students will develop an understanding of basic qualitative and quantitative
research design and analysis through use of scientific literature and SPSS. Lab fee.
GENERAL COURSE INFORMATION
This course serves as the required courses for students seeking to become a Licensed
Professional Counselor (LPC) under the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program.
COURSE OBJECTIVES
Upon completion of this course the student will be able to:
1. Develop awareness of the characteristics of ethical and legal research. (CACREP
II.K.8.f and II.K.7.i)
2. Understand and discuss in writing research designs and strategies. (CACREP Section
II.K.8.a)
3. Review and analyze published research studies related to counseling effectiveness.
(CACREP Section II.K.2.d)
4. Evaluate selected methods for qualitative and quantitative data collection, including
single-case designs, action research, and outcome-based research. (CACREP Section
II.K.8)
5. Understand the most frequently used statistics methods in psychological research,
including their limitations, and to develop skills in using these methods to answer
research questions. (CACREP Section II, F.7.c; 8.c. )
6. Learn the basic use of SPSS/Windows for data analyses and the interpretation of
output. (CACREP Section II, F.7.b, 8.d, e )
7. Describe average patterns of association among multiple variables observed in a
research sample. (CACREP Section II, F.8.e.g.)
8. Make inferences about patterns of association among research variables in a
population. (CACREP Section II, F.7.d.e., Clinical Mental Health Counseling,
Research evaluation J.3.)
9. Present (in writing, table, and figures) the result of statistical analyses. (CACREP
Section II, F.7. g.8.b.f.)
10. Critically examine published research using regression. (CACREP Section II, F.8.e.f.,
Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Research evaluation J.1)
METHODS OF INSTRUCTION
This course is both a theoretical and application course. Instructional methods will
include lecture, group exercises, and discussion. Practical experience will be gained
through in-class examinations, discussion of research and statistic related material. SPSS
program will be used to practice statistical analysis in addressing research questions.
TOPICAL OUTLINE OF COURSE CONTENTS includes, but is not limited to:
I.
Introduction to Research and Scientific thinking
II. Formulate Research ideas, resources, and ethic
III. Defining, measuring, and manipulating variables
IV. Descriptive methods
V. Data organization and descriptive statistics
VI. Corelational methods and statistics
VII. Hypothesis testing and inferential statistics
VIII. The logic of experimental design
IX. Interferential Statistic: two-group designs
X. Experimental designs with more than two levels of an independent variable
XI. Complex experimental design
XII. Quasi-experimental and single-case designs
XIII. APA Communication guidelines
XIV. APA Sample manuscript
COURSE REQUIREMENTS
Assignment #1: Quiz – will comprise (30%) of the student’s course grade. Quiz
will happen throughout the semester.
Assignment #2: Project will comprise (20%) of the student’s course grade.
The student will compose a research paper and carry through a research study. The
student is expected to complete a research study. This will include research design
idea modification, literature review, data collection, statistical analysis, and report
results. The research paper will be written in APA format. Students will be expected
to use professional books and appropriate journal articles. (Specific instructions will
be given in handout form to the class)
The final result of a quality project will be submit for professional presentation at a
regional, state, or national counseling conference, such as ACA, TCA, TMFT,
AAMFT, SWPA, etc...
Assignment #3: Homework – will comprise (20%) of the student’s course grade.
When homework is given, it is due at the start of the next class period. Cooperation
is encouraged.
Assignment #4: Library Workshop – will comprise (5%) of the student’s course
grade. You are required to attend at least two library workshops this semester. You
can register online or go into the library to sign up. Here is a link to the online form:
http://bit.ly/townsendworkshop
Assignment #5: Final Exam – will comprise (25%) of the student’s course grade.
ATTENDANCE
Mandatory. “Students are expected to attend all classes regularly and are held
responsible for all course work and assignments” (UMHB Graduate Catalog, p. 25.).
All students are responsible for adhering to the professional performance standards as
stated in the Graduate Counseling & Psychology Student Handbook through the
Graduate Counseling and Psychology website at www.umhb.edu. Failure to meet the
standards supersedes the student’s academic grade performance and will result in a
grade of F for the course.
Also, see page 31 of the UMHB Graduate Catalog.
TEXT
Jackson, A.L. (2009). Research Methods and Statistics (3rd ed). Belmont: Brooks/ColeWadsworth.
RECOMMENDED READINGS:
American Psychological Association. (2001). Publication manual of the American
Psychological Association (5th ed.). Washington, DC: American
Psychological Association.
Anastasi, A. (1992). What counselors should know about the use & interpretation of
psychological tests. Journal of Counseling & Development, 70, 610-615.
Gravetter, F. J. & Wallnau, L.B. (2008) Essentials of Statistics for the Behavioral
Sciences. (6th Ed) Belmont, CA: Thomson Higher Education.
Heppner, P.P., Wampold, B.E., and Kivlighan, D.M. (2008). Research design in
counseling. Belmont: Brooks/Cole-Wadsworth.
Kirkpatrick, L.A. & Feeney, B.C. (2009) A simple Guild to SPSS for version 16.0.
Belmont, CA: Thomson Higher Education.
Patten, M. L. (2002). Understanding research methods. Los Angeles: Pyrczack
Publishing.
Levin, J., & Fox, J. A. (2000). Elementary statistics in social research (8th Ed.). Boston,
MA: Allyn and Bacon.
Pyrczak, F. (2003) Making sense of statistics: A conceptual overview (3rd Ed.). Los
Angeles: Pyrczak Publishing.
Sprinthall, R. C. (2000). Basic statistical analysis (6th Ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn and
Bacon.
SELECTED WEBSITES
ERIC. (http://www.accesseric.org/index.html)
UnCoverWeb. (http://uncweb.carl.org)
NewJour. (http://gort.unsd.edu/newjour/)
Education Week. (http://www.edweek.org/)
CSTEEP: The Center for the Study of Testing, Evaluation, and Educational Policy.
(http://www.csteep.bc.edu/)
Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) http://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/
National Center for Education Statistics. (http://www.nces.ed.gov/)
Developing Educational Standards. (http://putnamvalley.schools,org/standards.html)
U.S. Department of Education. (http://www.ed.gov/)
American Counseling Association. (http://www.counseling.org/)
PROFESSOR AND OFFICE HOURS
Dr. Wen-Mei Chou, LPC, LMFT
Office: Frazier 113
Tele: 254-295-5432
Email: wchou@umhb.edu
Office Hours: Graduate hours by appointment