A methodological evaluation of psychological counseling and guidance journal content

• Published in: Procedia, social and behavioral sciences social and behavioral sciences, 2010, Vol.2 (2), p.4377-4382
• Main Authors: Başol, Gülşah, Koçak, Recep
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: common bias sources; flaws; Methodological problems; research methods
• ISSN: 1877-0428; 1877-0428
• DOI: 10.1016/j.sbspro.2010.03.696

This is a methodological evaluation study of the content of Turkish Psychological Counseling and Guidance Journal from 2000 to 2009. In this study, content analysis and methodological evaluation methods are used in combination. For the purpose of this study, the content of the journals from 2000 to 2009 were reviewed and their methodological thoroughness was evaluated based on some predefined characteristics. Of 140 published studies, 63 studies were in exploratory (descriptive-exploratory and survey model) and interrelationship model. There were 37 scale development/adaptation studies, 10 experimental/quasi-experimental studies, 25 literature review studies, and five qualitative studies. According to the results, the same problems seemed to appear throughout the articles. Some of the main problems were failing to identify the sampling method, effect size and power. The information regarding reliability and validity of the measurement tools were also inadequate. Finally, suggestions for future studies and implications for journal editors and higher education programs were provided.