Dear Counselor Educator:
This is the second request for participation in a dissertation research project titled Predicting the Perceived Importance of Professional Advocacy in Counselor Educators. This study is being conducted by Rebecca D. Nate, a doctoral student in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at Walden University. This form is part of a process called “informed consent” to allow you to understand this study before deciding whether to take part. Professional counselors with a minimum of a master’s degree who primarily identify with the professional identity of a counselor educator are the intended sample. If you have already completed this questionnaire I extend my gratitude and ask you to refrain from completing the questionnaire a second time.
The purpose of this study is to utilize the Professional Counselor Advocacy Inventory (PCAI) developed by de la Paz (2011) to gather information regarding perceptions of professional advocacy preparation, skills and qualities, importance/need, barriers, support, and efforts of professional counselors. In this study, the population will be limited to examining the perceptions of counselor educators as a sample. The data collected will be used to examine in-depth counselor educator’s perceptions of professional advocacy in regards perceived importance. The 74-question Likert-type scale questionnaire will take approximately 15-20 minutes of your time.
If you agree to be in this study, you will be asked to:
· Review this form in its entirety
· Complete a one-time 74-item questionnaire that will take approximately 15-20 minutes
· Submit the completed questionnaire
Below are two sample questions of interest, with responses based on a 7-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree):
· I think it is important to advocate for the profession of counseling
· I have had the need to advocate for myself other than for the profession of counseling
Participation in this study is voluntary; there is no consequence for withdrawing from the study at any time, the alternative would be not to participate. If you choose to forego participation or withdraw at any time, your decision will be respected. The risks associated with this study are determined to be minimal and may include minor discomfort that can be encountered in daily life, such as fatigue, stress, or becoming emotional about the topic. The data collected will be anonymous, therefore no identifying link to questionnaires will be established. There is no compensation associated with this study. The data collected may potentially help expand the literature base on professional advocacy, strengthen the identity of counselor educators, and reinforce the importance of advocating on behalf of the counseling discipline.
In order to participate in the study, you may click the link below. Each question must be answered in order to progress forward within the questionnaire. If you are not directed to the link immediately, you may also cut and paste the link into a web browser. Consent is indicated through participation, completion, and submission of the questionnaire.
http://pcai.questionpro.com/
Walden University’s approval number for this study is 12-09-14-0085099 and it expires on December 8, 2015. Data will be collected until January 21, 2015. I have no known conflicts of interest to disclose at this time. Please print or save this consent form for your records. For more information please contact the principal investigator, Rebecca D. Nate via email at rebecca.nate@waldenu.edu, Dr. Laura Haddock, my dissertation chair at laura.haddock@waldenu.edu, or Walden University at 612-312-1210 to inquire about your rights as participants.
Thank you in advance for your participation.
Rebecca D. Nate, MS, LPC, NCC
Doctoral Student
Walden University