STIMULIUS QUESTIONS:RESEARCH TRAINING 1
Stimulus Questions: Reflections on Research Training - Joys and Challenges
Shelby Anderson
School of Behavioral Sciences, Liberty University
Author Note
Shelby Anderson
I have no known conflict of interest to disclose.
Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Shelby Anderson
Email: Slanderson24@liberty.edu
STIMULIUS QUESTIONS:RESEARCH TRAINING 2
Stimulus Questions: Reflections on Research Training - Joys and Challenges
1. In what ways do you think scientific thinking might be useful for both practice and
scientific activities?
a. Basic scientific and critical thinking skills are vital to any counseling professional,
regardless of where their professional activities may be involved. According to Heppner,
Wampold, Owen, Thompson, and Wang, (2016), “Scientific thinking can be instrumental in how
counselors process information about a specific client during counseling as well as evaluate the
counseling process (p. 42).” Human beings are innately complex, and therefore having the ability
to understand that humans are not computers and have a fluidity of emotions, thoughts, and
feelings can be critical to the counseling process and the bias of the counselor. A huge concern
with the counseling role is the need to understand one's own bias. Carl Rogers noted in his 1955
research the dangers of bias and how it can influence the perceptions of the counselor towards
the client (Heppner et al, 2016). When we depend solely on personal experiences or established
beliefs biases can be developed, can obstruct the effective processing of information, and impair
the ability to assess the success of work, treatments, and outcomes of the counselor. Scientific
thinking when used in scientific activities is what has led to the development of evidence-based
practices and treatments. “Scientific thinking is a crucial feature that distinguishes the counselor
from a nonprofessional layperson, in large part because of its self-corrective characteristics
(Heppner et al, 2016).”
2. Identify five activities you can do to incorporate scientific thinking into your counseling
practice.
a. Five activities that I can do to incorporate scientific thinking into my counseling
practice include applying evidence-based practices in my work, volunteering to
STIMULIUS QUESTIONS:RESEARCH TRAINING 3
assist in conducting research, reading current literature about new scientific
discoveries or advancements, remaining active in attendance to seminars or
workshops regarding scientific application and discussion of it, and finally
conducting research in areas that present interest to me. As stated in Heppner et
al, (2016) “An attitude of scholarly inquiry goes beyond scientific thinking and
involves curiosity, inquisitiveness, healthy skepticism, exploration, and a desire to
learn.”
3. What do you see as the most important advantages of integrating science and practice in
the counseling profession?
a. One of the most important advantages of integrating science and practice into the
counseling profession is that it encourages a counselor to think more critically about the
interventions they utilize with their clients. The best-informed psychological practices include
research evidence on efficacy, effectiveness, cost-effectiveness, cost-benefit, epidemiological,
and treatment utilization which can all be best examined through the integration of science into
practice by counselors seeking to best meet the needs of their clients (Heppner et al, 2016, pg
21).
4. How do you see yourself in terms of being a researcher and/or practitioner?
a. As of the moment I can not say where I see myself being a researcher or a
practitioner. I do not feel as though I have contributed enough to the scientific
world to be considered a researcher, and I surely do not hold credentials to make
me a practitioner. However, after reading this week's readings I do feel I am
better equipped in terms of how I need to proceed to become a scientifically
informed practitioner.
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5. What do you feel very passionate about in your future as a counselor? Can you see any
way that research could help you enhance the work you will do within the areas that
excite you the most?
a. As a future addiction counselor, I have many passions in particular working with
those with mental health and substance use disorders (co-occurring disorders) is
something that draws most of my interest. Research is vital in this field of
counseling because of the multiple confounding variables that lead to the
diagnoses and treatment planning. Literature and evidence-based treatments will
be vital to understanding the success and fallbacks of clients, as well as
determining the next steps. It's important that I stay up to date on new findings in
the field as the topic is something that is always evolving and I hope one day to be
able to say I have helped make advancements in the findings myself.
6. What concerns, obstacles, and fears do you have about scientific training?
a. The major concern I have when it comes to scientific training is my ability to
competently conduct scientific research. While I feel that I have had exposure to
the research side of things through years of college education, it's not the same
when you are not active in it daily or even regularly. I feel as though currently my
knowledge is minute and ultimately I am back at my infancy stage. However as
stated in the text by Heppner et al. (2016) “The developmental process of
acquiring research competencies takes considerable time, years in fact, and often
differs across students.”
7. Examine the reactions you listed in question 6; why do you think you have these
reactions?
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a. My reaction to question six is solely based on the fact that I am so new to
research, and thus have very little experience in it. I have read all about
conducting research in many courses throughout my educational career but
completing it is a different story. I do feel as though as continue to gain
competency in research skills I will eventually see the feelings of uncertainty
subside. There is also the question I have to ask myself of whether I want to be an
active researcher in my career moving forward or focus more on the practitioner
side of things. Despite that, I must be competent in research and maintain an
understanding of the importance of scientific application in counseling.
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References
Heppner, P. P., Wampold, B. E., Owen, J., Thompson, M. N., and Wang, K. T. (2016). Research
design in counseling (4th ed.). Cengage Learning. ISBN: 9780357670767.
