Exploring Human Action in Counseling Psychology: The Action-Project Research Method

• Published in: Journal of counseling psychology Vol. 68; no. 3; pp. 331 - 343
• Main Authors: Young, Richard A., Domene, José F., Valach, Ladislav, Socholotiuk, Krista
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington American Psychological Association 01-04-2021
• Subjects: Action; Action theory; Counseling Psychology; Data Collection; Dyads; Ethics; Goal Orientation; Methodology; Morality; Qualitative Methods; Qualitative research; Research methodology; action-project method; video-assisted data collection; contextual action theory; qualitative methods
• ISBN: 1433894807; 9781433894800
• ISSN: 0022-0167; 1939-2168
• DOI: 10.1037/cou0000533

Qualitative research in counseling psychology in the last 2 decades has been characterized by the introduction and use of a range of methods and corresponding paradigms and conceptual frameworks. The action-project research method, described and updated in this article, is based on an understanding of human action as goal-directed and enacted in context: contextual action theory. We summarize this framework, prior to describing the method's procedures for conceptualizing research problems and questions, collecting and analyzing data from dyads of participants, and presenting research findings. We also discuss recent adaptations to the procedures and how the method addresses core issues in counseling psychology; that is, methodological integrity, culture, ethics, and power. We proceed to describe how the method relates to other qualitative methods and the kinds of research questions asked by the discipline and how the action-project method connects to professional practice issues.
Public Significance Statement
In this article, we present an update of the action-project method for conducting qualitative research in counseling psychology and beyond. In addition to describing its procedures in a way that can be taken up by researchers and graduate students, we highlight recent adaptations of the method that were implemented in response to the changing landscape of research, and we discuss how the method addresses important issues in counseling psychology, including culture, power, and professional practice.