Practical Approaches to Applied Research and Program Evaluation for Helping Professionals

Casey A. Barrio Minton, PhD, NCC, is a professor of counselor education and program coordinator for clinical mental health counseling at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She is a past president of the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling, the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, and Chi Sigma Iota International.A. Stephen Lenz, PhD, LPC, is an associate professor of counselor education at the University of Mississippi. He is a past president of the Association for Assessment and Research in Counseling and editor of Counseling Outcome Research and Evaluation.

"For the past 20 years I have searched for this research text, and it is finally here! This is the first book geared specifically towards teaching counseling students practical applied research and program evaluation methods that they can readily digest and apply in their day-to-day practice. The authors have cut to the heart of what is important to counseling practitioners when it comes to research. Readers will walk away from this book ready to head into the trenches and apply what they have learned in a meaningful way."—Victoria Kress, PhD, professor at Youngstown State University"Most research texts address the mechanics of research design and methodology absent of the context of where the research is occurring along with the influence the context has on the research process. This text affords readers a comprehensive and comprehensible guide for community engaged and translational research that is needed to address the most pressing issues in our field."—Andrew P. Daire, PhD, professor and dean of the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education"Practical Approaches to Applied Research and Program Evaluation is an exceptional text that presents readers with practical applications for using data to guide counselors’ practice and strengthen their programs’ effectiveness. The text provides case studies for the reviewed research topics, offering readers real-world relevance for the materials to their professional practice."—Glenn W. Lambie, PhD, professor of counselor education at the University of Central Florida

• Preface. Acknowledgments I. Embarking on an Inquiry 1. Where Science Meets Practice 2. Methodological Concepts 3. Measurement & Statistical Concepts 4. Strategies for Program Development, Scientific Inquiry, and Program Evaluation II. Using Research and Program Evaluation in Practice 5. The Matter of Question-Design Fit 6. Surveying Groups of People 7. Understanding Lived Experiences 8. Predicting Relationships Between Variables 9. Evaluating Change Within an Individual 10. Measuring Change with a Single Group 11. Evaluating Differences Between Groups 12. Combining Findings Across Studies or Sites III. Putting Evaluation Practice into Motion 13. Writing Goals, Objectives, and Outcomes 14. Using Literature to Support Practice 15. Selecting Assessment Measures 16. Managing Data 17. Reporting to Stakeholders 18. Closing the Loop 19. Sharing with Other Professionals 20. Addressing Ethical, Legal, and Cultural Considerations