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SAGE Journal User Guide

Theory Development: A Bridge Between Practice and Research

Stephen Southern and James Devlin

Theory development is important in the application of research to counseling practice.  In this article, inductive and deductive means of theory development, as well as personal and professional influences upon theoretical orientation are explored.  Theory-building questions are introduced to assist counselors in identifying areas of personal preferences and possible biases.

1. Describe what a grounded theory refers to.  Why is this type of theory able to bridge potential gaps between counseling researchers and practitioners?

2. According to the authors, counseling practitioners form their practice models and theories through their own life experiences.   In what ways can this approach enhance a counseling practitioner’s work?  In what ways can this approach limit a counseling practitioner’s work?

3. The “theory-building questions” contained in table 3, can help students begin to conceptualize how theories can be intentionally or unintentionally selected or followed.  Which theory-building questions are the most salient to you and why?  What aspects of your own life experience have impacted your counseling theory and the values and beliefs it contains?

On Science-Practice Integration in Everyday Life : A Plea for Theory

Nancy L. Murdock

Applying theory to individual counseling clients and client concerns can seem difficult and abstract.  Models of science to practitioner are presented in this article, as a means to understand how counseling theory and counseling practice can reciprocally support and enhance both research and practice.

1. What is meant by the article’s reference to counselors who think scientifically?

2. Describe what the author refers to as the orientation based approach to science-practitioner integration.  What are the strengths and limitations of this approach?

3. Based upon the article, what are the ways that the experiences of counseling practice can inform the direction of counseling research?  Similarly, what are the ways that counseling research can inform counseling practice?