Subjects, designs, and generalizations in Volumes 25-29 of the Journal of Counseling Psychology.

Abstract

Articles published in the Journal of Counseling Psychology (JCP), Volumes 25 through 29, were reviewed and classified in terms of (a) population from which the sample of the study was drawn, (b) the research design, and (c) the extent to which the results were generalized. A total of 424 articles were published in the five volumes. Around 70% included samples obtained from university populations. Most of the studies (394 out of 424) could be classified in one of the four research design categories offered by Gelso (1979a). In terms of generalization, 54.48% specified limitations, and 38.44% did not. Results suggest that JCP is concerned basically with academic environments. Implications of these findings are discussed.

Trends in psychotherapy process research: Samples, measures, researchers, and classic publications.

“…Educational status of clients and therapists. The most typical clients and therapists in JCP process studies were students, supporting earlier findings by Munley (1974) and Sherman and Doan (1985). In contrast, JCCP studies more often involved clients from the community and experienced therapists.…”

Content analysis and methodological critique of articles concerning lesbian and gay male issues in counseling journals.

“…This criticism, however, is not unique to this population. Ponterotto (1988) also reported an overreliance on the use of student samples in research on ethnic minorities, and Scherman and Doan (1985) reported the same to be true for all counseling research.…”

Older Adult Representation in the Counseling Psychology Literature

“…Finally, in regard to the trend over time, given that only eight empirical articles were specifically concerned with older adults, it is not surprising that there was no significant change in the percentage of articles published that focused on older adults over the 10-year period examined. Furthermore, despite the calls for including more older adults in the counseling literature (e.g., Buboltz, et al, 1999;Fretz, 1993;Gelso, 1985;Hanson & Mintz, 1997;Munley, 1974;Scherman & Doan, 1985), very few articles have been published in TCP and JCP with a theoretical focus on older adults. We could find evidence of only eight such articles, all of which were found in TCP.…”

“…A subsequent study of JCP, Volumes 25 to 29 (i.e., 1978-1982Scherman & Doan, 1985), documented that less than 10% of studies included participants older than traditional college age. Furthermore, older adults were not even mentioned as having been participants in any of the studies.…”

“…Our goal was to examine the degree of older adult representation in JCP and TCP articles through exploring three research questions. First, although earlier studies examining older adult representation in counseling psychology journals (e.g., Munley, 1974;Scherman & Doan, 1985) found few articles focusing on this age group, a later statement made by Division 17 President Fretz (1993; see also Kagan et al, 1988) urged professionals to focus on gerontological issues in counseling psychology training programs. To determine whether such issues were receiving attention in the counseling psychology literature, we examined the extent of the discussion of older adults in the empirical and theoretical articles in both journals.…”