Counseling Graduates’ Experience of Undertaking Qualitative Research: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis
Keywords:
qualitative research, experience, counseling graduates, Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA)Abstract
Qualitative research methodologies have currently been widely used in psychological research. In Thailand, some counseling psychology programs have recently started to offer qualitative research training and more counseling students are using qualitative methodologies in their theses. However, to date there appears to be no research addressing the qualitative research experience of Thai-based counseling graduates. This research was thus set out to fill such gap in the literature, with the aim to identify potential ways to further support students to be successful in the conduct of qualitative research. The study employed interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five master’s level counseling graduates who completed a qualitative thesis. This paper presents one salient aspect of the qualitative research experience, namely “Facilitators and barriers in the qualitative research process”, consisting of the four following sub-themes: 1) “The late exposure to qualitative research learning”, 2) “Qualitative analysis as challenging”, 3) “The influential role of qualitative research advisors”, and 4) “The relevance of counseling and qualitative research skills”. These results are considered in the context of previous literature. Practical implications and suggestions for future research directions are discussed.
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psychologist, 26(2), 120-123.
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Farber, N. K. (2006). Conducting qualitative research: A practical guide for school counselors. Professional school counseling, 9(5), 367-375.
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Counselor Education and Supervision, 51(4), 242-255.
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rationale and curriculum model. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 2, 97-116.
Povee, K. & Roberts, L. D. (2014). Qualitative research in psychology: Attitudes of psychology students and academic staff. Australian Journal of
Psychology, 66, 28-37.
Probst, B., Harris, D., Pehm, J., Lindquist, R., Mora, O., Hallas, V., & Sandoval, S. (2016). In our voices: A collaborative reflection on teaching and
being taught. Qualitative Social Work, 15(3), 331-345.
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Psychology, 16(3), 464-482.
Roberts, L. D., & Castell, E. (2016). “Having to shift everything we’ve learned to the side”: expanding research methods taught in psychology to
incorporate qualitative methods. Frontiers in psychology, 7 (688), 1-8.
Sargeant, S. (2012). ‘I don't get it’: A critical reflection on conceptual and practical challenges in teaching qualitative methods. Psychology
Learning & Teaching, 11(1), 39-45.
Smith, J. A. (2004). Reflecting on the development of interpretative phenomenological analysis and its contribution to qualitative research in
psychology. Qualitative research in psychology, 1(1), 39-54.
Smith, J. A. (2011). Evaluating the contribution of interpretative phenomenological analysis. Health Psychology Review, 5(1), 9-27.
Smith, J. A., Flowers, P., & Larkin, M. (2009). Interpretative phenomenological analysis: Theory, method and research. London: Sage.
Thorne, S. (2000). Data analysis in qualitative research. Evidence-based nursing, 3(3), 68-70.
Thorpe, M. R. (2013). The process of conducting qualitative research as an adjunct to the development of therapeutic abilities in counseling
psychology. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 42(3), 35.
Turner, G. W., & Crane, B. (2016). Teaching and learning qualitative methods through the dissertation advising relationship: Perspectives from a
professor and a graduate. Qualitative Social Work, 15(3), 346-362.
Wertz, F. (2014). Qualitative inquiry in the history of psychology. Qualitative Psychology, 1,4 –16.
Wiggins, S., Gordon-Finlayson, A., Becker, S., & Sullivan, C. (2016). Qualitative undergraduate project supervision in psychology: Current
practices and support needs of advisors across North East England and Scotland. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 13(1), 1-19.
Yeh, C. J., & Inman, A. G. (2007). Qualitative data analysis and interpretation in counseling psychology: Strategies for best practices. The
counseling psychologist, 35(3), 369-403.
professional practice. Studies in Continuing Education, 30(1), 33-49.
Barrio Minton, C. A., Wachter Morris, C. A., & Yaites, L. D. (2014). Pedagogy in counselor education: A 10‐year content analysis of journals.
Counselor Education and Supervision, 53(3), 162-177.
Benishek, L. A., & Chessler, M. (2005). Facilitating the identity development of counseling graduate students as researchers. The Journal of
Humanistic Counseling, Education and Development, 44(1), 16-31.
Brinkmann, S. (2015). Perils and potentials in qualitative psychology. Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science, 49(2), 162-173.
British Psychological Society. (BPS, 2016). Standards for the accreditation of undergraduate, conversion and integrated Masters programmes in
psychology. Retrieved from https://www.bps.org.uk/sites/bps.org.uk/files/Accreditation/
Undergraduate%20Accreditation%20Handbook%202019.pdf
Burkard, A. W., Knox, S., DeWalt, T., Fuller, S., Hill, C., & Schlosser, L. Z. (2014). Dissertation experiences of doctoral graduates from professional
psychology programs. Counseling Psychology Quarterly, 27(1), 19-54.
Clarke, V., & Braun, V. (2013). Teaching thematic analysis: Overcoming challenges and developing strategies for effective learning. The
psychologist, 26(2), 120-123.
Cooper, R., Fleisher, A., & Cotton, F. A. (2012). Building connections: An interpretative phenomenological analysis of qualitative research
students’ learning experiences. The Qualitative Report, 17(17), 1-16.
Cox, R. D. (2012). Teaching qualitative research to practitioner–researchers. Theory into practice, 51(2), 129-136.
Dickson-Swift, V., James, E. L., Kippen, S., & Liamputtong, P. (2008). Risk to researchers in qualitative research on sensitive topics: Issues and
strategies. Qualitative Health Research, 18(1), 133-144.
Farber, N. K. (2006). Conducting qualitative research: A practical guide for school counselors. Professional school counseling, 9(5), 367-375.
Flynn, S. V., Chasek, C. L., Harper, I. F., Murphy, K. M., & Jorgensen, M. F. (2012). A qualitative inquiry of the counseling dissertation process.
Counselor Education and Supervision, 51(4), 242-255.
Gibson,S., & Sullivan, C. (Eds.).(2012). Teaching Qualitative Research Methods in Psychology: An introduction to the special issue (Special issue).
Psychology Learning and Teaching, 11(1), 1-5.
Gough, B., & Lyons, A. (2016). The future of qualitative research in psychology: Accentuating the positive. Integrative Psychological and
Behavioural Science, 50, 234–243.
Howitt, D. (2010). Introduction to qualitative methods in psychology. Essex: Pearson Education.
Jacob, S. A., & Furgerson, S. P. (2012). Writing interview protocols and conducting interviews: Tips for students new to the field of qualitative
research. The qualitative report, 17(42), 1-10.
Jorgensen, M. F., & Duncan, K. (2015a). A grounded theory of master's‐level counselor research identity. Counselor Education and Supervision,
54(1), 17-31.
Jorgensen, M. F., & Duncan, K. (2015b). A Phenomenological Investigation of Master's-Level Counselor Research Identity Development Stages.
Professional Counselor, 5(3), 327-340.
Josselson, R. (2019, January). A brief history of SQIP. Retrieved from http://sqip.org/about/a-brief-history-of-sqip
Larkin, M., Watts, S., & Clifton, E. (2006). Giving voice and making sense in interpretative phenomenological analysis. Qualitative Research in
Psychology, 3, 102-120.
Lamar, M. R., & Helm, H. M. (2017). Understanding the researcher identity development of counselor education and supervision doctoral
students. Counselor Education and Supervision, 56(1), 2-18.
Letourneau, J. L. (2015). Infusing qualitative research experiences into core counseling curriculum courses. International Journal for the
Advancement of Counseling, 37(4), 375-389.
Levitt, H. M. (2015). Qualitative Psychotherapy Research: The Journey So Far and Future Directions. Psychotherapy, 52, 31–37.
McLeod, J. (2011). Qualitative research in counseling and psychotherapy. London: Sage.
Mitchell, T., Friesen, M., Friesen, D., & Rose, R. (2007). Learning against the grain: Reflections on the challenges and revelations of studying
qualitative research methods in an undergraduate psychology course. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 4(3), 227-240.
Moran, P. (2011). Bridging the gap between research and practice in counseling and psychotherapy training: Learning from trainees.
Counseling and Psychotherapy Research, 11(3), 171–178.
Morrow, S. L. (2007). Qualitative research in counseling psychology: Conceptual foundations. The Counseling Psychologist, 35(2), 209–235.
O'Neill, P. (2002). Tectonic change: The qualitative paradigm in psychology. Canadian Psychology, 43, 190-194.
Pillay, A. L., & Kritzinger, A. M. (2007). The dissertation as a component in the training of clinical psychologists. South African Journal of
Psychology, 37(3), 638-655.
Ponterotto, J. G. (2002). Qualitative research methods: The fifth force in psychology. The Counseling Psychologist, 30, 394-406.
Ponterotto, J. G. (2005). Integrating qualitative research requirements into professional psychology training programs in North America:
rationale and curriculum model. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 2, 97-116.
Povee, K. & Roberts, L. D. (2014). Qualitative research in psychology: Attitudes of psychology students and academic staff. Australian Journal of
Psychology, 66, 28-37.
Probst, B., Harris, D., Pehm, J., Lindquist, R., Mora, O., Hallas, V., & Sandoval, S. (2016). In our voices: A collaborative reflection on teaching and
being taught. Qualitative Social Work, 15(3), 331-345.
Reisetter, M., Korcuska, J. S., Yexley, M., Bonds, D., Nikels, H., & McHenry, W. (2004). Counselor educators and qualitative research: Affirming a
research identity. Counselor Education and Supervision, 44(1), 2-16.
Riley, S., Brooks, J., Goodman, S., Cahill, S., Branney, P., Treharne, G. J., & Sullivan, C. (2019). Celebrations amongst challenges: Considering the
past, present and future of the qualitative methods in psychology section of the British Psychology Society. Qualitative Research in
Psychology, 16(3), 464-482.
Roberts, L. D., & Castell, E. (2016). “Having to shift everything we’ve learned to the side”: expanding research methods taught in psychology to
incorporate qualitative methods. Frontiers in psychology, 7 (688), 1-8.
Sargeant, S. (2012). ‘I don't get it’: A critical reflection on conceptual and practical challenges in teaching qualitative methods. Psychology
Learning & Teaching, 11(1), 39-45.
Smith, J. A. (2004). Reflecting on the development of interpretative phenomenological analysis and its contribution to qualitative research in
psychology. Qualitative research in psychology, 1(1), 39-54.
Smith, J. A. (2011). Evaluating the contribution of interpretative phenomenological analysis. Health Psychology Review, 5(1), 9-27.
Smith, J. A., Flowers, P., & Larkin, M. (2009). Interpretative phenomenological analysis: Theory, method and research. London: Sage.
Thorne, S. (2000). Data analysis in qualitative research. Evidence-based nursing, 3(3), 68-70.
Thorpe, M. R. (2013). The process of conducting qualitative research as an adjunct to the development of therapeutic abilities in counseling
psychology. New Zealand Journal of Psychology, 42(3), 35.
Turner, G. W., & Crane, B. (2016). Teaching and learning qualitative methods through the dissertation advising relationship: Perspectives from a
professor and a graduate. Qualitative Social Work, 15(3), 346-362.
Wertz, F. (2014). Qualitative inquiry in the history of psychology. Qualitative Psychology, 1,4 –16.
Wiggins, S., Gordon-Finlayson, A., Becker, S., & Sullivan, C. (2016). Qualitative undergraduate project supervision in psychology: Current
practices and support needs of advisors across North East England and Scotland. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 13(1), 1-19.
Yeh, C. J., & Inman, A. G. (2007). Qualitative data analysis and interpretation in counseling psychology: Strategies for best practices. The
counseling psychologist, 35(3), 369-403.
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Published
2020-04-30
How to Cite
Srichannil, C. . (2020). Counseling Graduates’ Experience of Undertaking Qualitative Research: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis. Journal of Education Burapha University, 31(1), 183–199. retrieved from https://so02.tci-thaijo.org/index.php/edubuu/article/view/244216
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