Action Research and Single-Subject Designs : Serving Counselor Accountability and Improving Practice Decisions

Research is not, nor should it be, restricted to those in academia. This is the central premise of Action Research and Single-Subject Designs: Serving Counselor Accountability and Improving Practice Decisions. The text is centered around the idea that ethical and effective counselors approach their practice with the mindset of a reflective practitioner, engaging action research methodology to collect data to guide and improve practice decisions and demonstrate accountability and effectiveness.

Part I of the text provides the rationale for counselors becoming reflective practitioners and engaging in research. Part II highlights the steps and targets of action research; the collection, organization, and analyses of data; and methods that guide valid and trustworthy interpretation of research findings. The chapters in Part III review specific research designs that are user friendly and applicable for those engaged in clinical counseling practice, including case studies, interrupted time series, reversal designs, and multiple baseline designs. The final part provides a model for engaging in action research and the opportunity to engage with the actual process.

A critical resource for today’s practicing counselors, Action Research and Single-Subject Designs is an ideal textbook for courses and programs in counseling research.