Action Research Library
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School Counseling Collaborative Action Research Model |
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Sample Projects:
The Little Bus that Could: Progress of a Counseling Program in Transition
This project is an example of the collaborative action research work completed between 2000 and 2009. At that time small teams of school counseling graduate students were assigned to work with practitioners in the field to examine issues of practice at school sites around San Diego County. In this example, a team of four graduate students worked with counselors and administrators at a local high school. The practitioners wanted a better sense of the extent to which their existing program met the criteria for a comprehensive school counseling program based on the National Standards and other criteria. The graduate student team observed and monitored the school's counseling and guidance program and evaluated the progress being made in transitioning to a results-based system. Participants included 5 counselors, 3 guidance technicians, district administrators, assistant principal, and principal. Qualitative action research was conducted over the course of four months. A Results-Based Program Audit developed by Johnson and Johnson (1991) was the primary research instrument used to evaluate the counseling program. Researchers found that a majority of elements were in the “working stage,” several were “Not Started,” and one met all criteria. Progress was being made towards a results-based counseling program, yet communication issues challenged the school counseling program and hindered the transition process.
