Reflection on Outcome in Counseling - Research Proposal Example

The shift in the practice of counseling mirrors or reflects a shift in our thinking. It has drifted away from positivism and moved towards social constructionism. Therefore, Outcome research is considered to be the understanding of the end result of any intervention or practices. However, the final outcome or result is defined by what an individual may experience or on how important or vital it poses for change and progress. Outcome research not only encompasses the quality of life but also the quality of care. The key reason as to why Outcome research is so important is merely because it encourages as well as supports improvement which is brought about by good research. Speaking about the post modernist perspective, (Monk, Winslade, Crockett, & Epston, 1997) had this to say, ‘the postmodern therapist acts as a co-constructor of knowledge and reality with the client.’ Therefore, Outcome research gives supporting evidence about the pro’s and con’s as well as the right treatment of different methodologies, in order that the services provided would be more useful in educational decisions. Outcome research also proves to be very useful in identifying effective ways that can improve the quality of care and addressing the possible blockades or barriers and thereby helping to provide better service in care. The postmodern perspective is evidently experienced in our everyday lives. Anything from the decor of a room, to societal and economical shifts can be described as postmodern. While modernism looks beyond material truth and searches for the abstract postmodernism sees no abstract or universal truth. It attempts to subvert the distinction between "high" and "low" culture; likewise, it carries no distinctions between "good" and "bad." A post modern world- view can be described as one that is not only qualitative but constructive in its approach to research. Unlike modernism, which sees history as something we can learn from for the future, postmodern theory says the future is indeterminate; we cannot learn from the past and we can live only in the present. Works of art and science (as is history) are seen as texts, understood only in themselves and are not, what modern theory suggests - windows to the truth. Meta- narratives are stories told to explain the belief systems that exist within a society. On the other hand, Postmodernism is the critique of these meta-narratives, knowing that these stories are told to mask the unavoidable instabilities that previously existed in society by categorizing and stating that disorder is not good for society and that order is really what is important for modern day progress. Postmodernism rejects these stories and instead advocates mini-narratives, which are situational, temporary, and make no claim to be a universal or absolute truth. Its main focus is on the narrative within a scientific realm. Pragmatism was first used by an American logician named C. S. Peirce which was later expanded upon by William who generalized the pragmatic method, and developed it from the logical basis of the sciences into a basis for the evaluation of all experiences. Speaking on the concept of Pragmatism William says that ideas are meaningless without their consequences and what scientists use as a method of defining terms and for testing hypotheses which results in predictions. The hypotheses can be considered true if the predicted events take place, and the outcome of meaningful theories are crucial for dealing with problems that arise in any experience. Unlike science, in counseling we need to find out how best to serve our clients. We should take into account that our clients are not lab specimen guinea pigs, which means that we have to make sure that they are quite capable of functioning in everyday life because we do not have the privilege of working in a lab and running the same test for years. Each and every one of our clients is unique and therefore different clients’ respond to stimuli in different ways. Outcome research attempts to tell us if a certain intervention would be constructive and successful or not. Webster’s dictionary defines postmodernism as a number of trends or moments in the arts and literature developing in the 1970’s in the reaction to rejection of the dogma, principles, or practices of establish modernism, modernist is a person who follows or favors modern ways or tendencies. In reading Gergen I found a statement that interested me which said, “Yet, as the debate has continued over centuries, rationalism faces no better than empiricism in solving the riddle of mental knowledge. This statement ties into post modernism being rationalism and modernism being imperialism. Post modernism has caused many debates because it does not conflict with the validity of historical documents. Modernism believes that facts are not debatable and relies on the available facts to gain or give a clearer understanding of what is spoken of. How post and modernistic ideas tie into or incorporated into outcome research. Post modern ideas allow space for flexibility because times have changed and what was the norm for modernistic ideas are no longer acceptable. A good example of this would be a two parent household which is no longer the norm. So post modernistic ideas attempt to be broad and incorporate new thoughts and ideas of life. Post modernism also includes a more eclectic approach because when functioning in different equations it is difficult to stick to just one theory. Post modernism also allows for anomalies which guide us to get data for things that fall outside the norm because using modernistic ideas at times is incommensurable as the concept of modernism does not allow factors outside its paradigm to be measured. The same goes for post modernistic perception - when dealing with objectivity vs. subjectivity, what one researcher defines as factual is debated by another. However, a Modernistic approach stands on the phenomena of the truth. This approach though not universal in style is more is more acceptable as it has well grounded roots and works with one particular theory instead of using many to accommodate the individual style. With picking one theory such as that of William Glasser, researchers are able to determine its effectiveness. This was carried out by having a control group and a research group. This is equivalent to one that recieves a drug and another that gets the placebo. In doing research you are able to see effectiveness as well as objectivity. The modernistic approach stands and is based on factual information that can be understood by an individual who uses the objective methods instead of subjective methods. The modernistic approach maintains exclusivity from all other approaches and does not integrate other styles or crossbred theories. In my opinion modernistic approach has a better foundation and basis for research. Even in the eclectic style, if it was not for the modernistic style, there would be no grounds for them to compare other works. For the record, I am a staunch modernistic follower with some post modernistic ideals. Modern critical analysis of history appears to be more fathomable than post modernism. To look at the world around us objectively, correlates events with reality and it gives more meaning to why and how things happen and helps to prevent bad things from being repeated in the future. Modernistic thought gives reasoning for the events taking place. However, everything written as the truth or fact should not be taken for granted. Post modernism opens the door for new ideas to flourish by way of erasing the concept of subject object dichotomy. The truth is no longer objective, but rather everything is subjective. If one were to describe issues by staunchly following post modern critical analysis, the meaning of many wonderful things would be lost forever or be pointless. 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