Doing counselling research - John McLeod

`For "counselling" read "counselling and psychotherapy"! This excellent book helps fill a gap in the basic literature and is long overdue... in a clear, very readable way, it introduces counsellors and therapists to the basic relevant methods and approaches to research.... This book is highly recommended - Changes

Written specifically for trainee and practising counsellors, this is the first practical, all-encompassing introduction to the strategies employed in counselling and psychotherapy research.

Taking an interdisciplinary approach to counselling, the book guides readers through the principles and practice of undertaking a successful research project, describing how to locate, understand and critique relevant literature and how to gain access to useful research tools. John McLeod illustrates how to design and implement an effective study plan and gives a detailed account of the most useful research strategies, incorporating consideration of ethical issues at all stages of the process. He goes on to discuss the dissemination of research findings and reporting of results.

The author stresses that research has a major role to play in developing services that are effective in helping clients. He places a special emphasis on qualitative and case-study approaches and encourages a critical appreciation of other methodological issues.