Journal of Qualitative Research in Health Sciences

Journal of Qualitative Research in Health Sciences

Current Issue

By Issue

By Author

By Subject

Author Index

Keyword Index

About Journal

Aims and Scope

Editorial Board

Publication Ethics

Peer Review Process

Editorial Policy

Indexing and Abstracting

Related Links

Journal Metrics

FAQ

News

Guide for Authors

Galley Proof

Identifying Factors Influencing the Efficiency of School Counselors: A Thematic Analysis Study

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Department of Counseling, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran

10.34172/jqr.2024.28

Abstract

Background: School counselors are expected to induce changes in schools and to help improve and promote students’ academic, personal/social, and professional development. Accordingly, this study aimed to identify the factors underlying the efficiency of school counselors.
Methods: This qualitative study was conducted using a descriptive and exploratory design. Data were collected through semi-structured exploratory interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis. The participants in the study were 13 school counseling professors and experts with research and academic experiences in school counseling. The participants were selected using purposive non-probability (judgmental) sampling and sampling continued until data saturation.
Results: The findings showed that factors underlying the efficiency of school counselors included psychological skills (communication and interaction skills, trust-building and persuasion skills, motivational skills, and cognitive skills), technical skills (learning and teaching skills, problem-finding and problem-solving skills, knowledge skills, and research skills), personality traits (responsibility, adherence to human and moral values, initiative, ideation and creativity, effort and patience, risk-taking spirit, and adaptability), and management skills (planning and time management, monitoring the surrounding environment, and decision-making).
Conclusion: Addressing the factors contributing to school counselors’ efficiency helps improve their professional competencies and leads to the effectiveness of counseling services offered in schools. Moreover, taking into account these factors can contribute to recruiting more qualified counselors in the educational system.

Keywords

References
  1. Ranđelović DJ, Mitrović MZ, Todorović DL. Psychological counceling center for students-need, desire, necessity. Collection of Papers of the Faculty of Philosophy. 2015;45(3):143-66. doi: 10.5937/zrffp45-8663.
  2. Cooper JB, Ng KM. Trait emotional intelligence and perceived supervisory working alliance of counseling trainees and their supervisors in agency settings. Int J Adv Couns. 2009;31(3):145-57. doi: 10.1007/s10447-009-9074-4.
  3. Setiyowati AJ, Pali M, Wiyono BB, Triyono T. Structural model of counseling competence. Cakrawala Pendidikan. 2019;38(1):45-62. doi: 10.21831/cp.v38i1.21509.
  4. Aldemir A, İlhan T. A study on the professional perceptions of school counselors. Turk Psychol Couns Guid J. 2018;8(51):53- 80.
  5. You L, Jia X, Ding Y, An Q, Li B. A study on the competence characteristics of psychological hotline counselors during the outbreak of COVID-19. Front Psychol. 2021;12:566460. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.566460.
  6. Machorro VD, Suck AT. Professional identity of counselors in Mexico: a commentary. The Professional Counselor. 2014;4(1):84-92. doi: 10.15241/vdm.4.1.84.
  7. Reiskarami SMM, Ahmadi S, Keshavarz Afshar H, Rahiminezhad A. Factors affecting the perceptions of principals and teachers about the role of school counselor: a systematic review. Journal of Counseling Research Iranian Counseling Association. 2023; 22 (85): 56-87. doi: 10.18502/qjcr.v22i85.12536. [Persian].
  8. Sharifzadeh SA, Borjali A, Eskandari H, Farrokhi NA, Sohrabi F. Presenting a pattern for Specifying psychological characteristics in choosing of the teachers of preliminary schools. Educ Psychol. 2020;16(57):282-301. doi: 10.22054/ jep.2021.46550.2770. [Persian].
  9. Shariatmadar A, Hasanpour F, Kalantar Hormozi A. Evaluation of burnout syndrome and occupational imbalance in school counselors: a qualitative study. Rooyesh. 2021;10(6):117-28. [Persian].
  10. Barmaki H, Parsa Moein K, Kalantari M. Providing model of job engagement based on personality characteristics with mediating social and organizational supports in schools of Tehran city. Sci J Soc Psychol. 2020;7(53):13-23. [Persian].
  11. Ahmadi E, Alishahi Ghasemzadeh A, Bafandeh Gharamaleki H. A study of the correlation between personality traits and observance of professional ethics and individual accountability of counselors and psychologists. Qom Univ Med Sci J. 2015;9(9):57-65. [Persian].
  12. Akbari Z, Shariatmadar A, Farahbakhsh K, Mohammad Nazari A. Developing a professional competency model for divorce counselors at The Crisis Intervention Centers. Counseling Culture and Psycotherapy. 2022;13(49):31-76. doi: 10.22054/ qccpc.2021.62949.2770. [Persian].
  13. Baştemur Ş, Uçar S. Mixed method research on effective psychological counselor characteristics and empowerment needs of Turkish school counselors. Particip Educ Res. 2022;9(1):1-21. doi: 10.17275/per.22.1.9.1.
  14. Taylor J, Sims J, Haines TP. The influence of protection, palliation and costs on mobility optimization of residents in nursing homes: a thematic analysis of discourse. Int J Nurs Stud. 2012;49(11):1364-74. doi: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2012.06.008.
  15. Braun V, Clarke V. Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qual Res Psychol. 2006;3(2):77-101. doi: 10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.
  16. Ruslin R, Mashuri S, Abdul Rasak MS, Alhabsyi F, Syam H. Semi-structured interview: a methodological reflection on the development of a qualitative research instrument in educational studies. IOSR J Res Method Educ. 2022;12(1):22- 9.
  17. Patton MQ. Sampling, qualitative (purposeful). In: Ritzer G, ed. The Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology. Malden, MA: Blackwell; 2007.
  18. Camp A, Foxx SP, Flowers C. Examining the relationship between the multicultural self-efficacy, empathy, and training of school counselors and their knowledge and skills supporting students experiencing homelessness. Prof Sch Couns. 2018;22(1):2156759X19867332. doi: 10.1177/2156759x19867332.
  19. Guba EG, Lincoln YS. Fourth Generation Evaluation. Newbury Park, CA: SAGE Publications; 1989.
  20. Cox RH. Sport Psychology: Concepts and Applications. New York: McGraw-Hill; 2012.
  21. Khodadadi F, Hasoumi T. Examining the relationship between three skills (technical, human, perceptive) of managers and their effectiveness in the opinion of teachers. Educational Management Research. 2013;3(11):75-90. https://www.sid.ir/ paper/95851/fa. [Persian].
  22. Heinonen E, Nissen-Lie HA. The professional and personal characteristics of effective psychotherapists: a systematic review. Psychother Res. 2020;30(4):417-32. doi: 10.1080/10503307.2019.1620366.
  23. Arabi Makiabadi H, Heydari E. Structural modeling of the effect of manager’s management skills on teachers’ job satisfaction. Management and Educational Perspective. 2022;4(1):32-52. doi: 10.22034/jmep.2022.327496.1097. [Persian].
  24. İkiz FE, Totan T. A scale developing to assess effective counselor characteristics. Turk Psychol Couns Guid J. 2014;5(42):269-79.
  25. Guler D, Ceyhan E. School counsellors’ resilience in Turkey: a phenomenological study. J Psychol Couns Sch. 2020;30(2):185-201. doi: 10.1017/jgc.2019.16.
  26. Özteke Kozan Hİ. A qualitative approach to school counsellor self-efficacy: sources and enhancement strategies. J Psychol Couns Sch. 2022;32(1):107-23. doi: 10.1017/jgc.2019.34.
  27. Heled E, Davidovich N. The impact of academic, personal, and professional attributes on the occupational identity of school counselors in Israel. Int J Educ Methodol. 2019;5(4):513-23. doi: 10.12973/ijem.5.4.513.
  28. Rønnestad MH, Orlinsky DE, Schröder TA, Skovholt TM, Willutzki U. The professional development of counsellors and psychotherapists: implications of empirical studies for supervision, training and practice. Couns Psychother Res. 2019;19(3):214-30. doi: 10.1002/capr.12198.
  29. Robinson DM, Mason EC, McMahon HG, Flowers LR, Harrison A. New school counselors’ perceptions of factors influencing their roles as leaders. Prof Sch Couns. 2018;22(1):2156759X19852617. doi: 10.1177/2156759x19852617.
  30. Astramovich RL. Program evaluation interest and skills of school counselors. Prof Sch Couns. 2016;20(1):1096-2409- 20.1.54. doi: 10.5330/1096-2409-20.1.54.
  31. Farshad M, Fekri K. Construction and validity of the dimensions of development of conselors questionnaire. Career and Organizational Counseling. 2019;11(38):137-60. doi: 10.29252/jcoc.11.1.137. [Persian].
  32. Karami M, Choupani M. Counselors’ perception of their competency skill components: a qualitative study. J Qual Res Health Sci. 2018;7(3):264-78. [Persian].
  33. Soudi H, Maleki Avarsin S, Talebi B. Development of a model for effective junior high schools. Quarterly Journal of Family and Research. 2019;16(1):101-26. [Persian].
  34. Dollarhide CT, Lemberger-Truelove ME. Theories of School Counseling for the 21st Century. Oxford University Press; 2019. p. 214-365.
  35. Strasser J, Gruber H. Learning processes in the professional development of mental health counselors: knowledge restructuring and illness script formation. Adv Health Sci Educ Theory Pract. 2015;20(2):515-30. doi: 10.1007/s10459-014- 9545-1.
  36. Evers O, Schröder-Pfeifer P, Möller H, Taubner S. How do personal and professional characteristics influence the development of psychotherapists in training: results from a longitudinal study. Res Psychother. 2019;22(3):424. doi: 10.4081/ripppo.2019.424.
  37. Karami M, Choupani M. Personality dimensions of counselors’ competency from the perspective of successful counselors: a qualitative study. J Qual Res Health Sci. 2020;8(2):154-69. [Persian].
  38. Nasri S, Heydari Bafghi R, Jararh J. Personality characteristics, irrational beliefs, and communication skills as predictors school counselors’ job performance. Biannual Journal of Applied Counseling. 2017;7(1):27-46. doi: 10.22055/ jac.2017.20090.1371. [Persian].
  39. Corey G. Case Approach to Counseling and Psychotherapy. Cengage Learning; 2012. p. 263-389.
  40. Haghshenas S, Abolmaali Alhoseini K. Designing a conceptual model to explain the job success of school counselors. Counseling Culture and Psycotherapy. 2022;13(49):77-94. doi: 10.22054/qccpc.2021.62017.2738. [Persian].
  41. Zyromski B, Griffith C, Choi J. Embracing school counselors’ situatedness: data-based decision making as fulfillment of a complex identity. Prof Sch Couns. 2021;24(1_part_3):2156759X211011922. doi: 10.1177/2156759x211011922.
  42. Kettunen J, Lee J, Vuorinen R. Exploring Finnish guidance counselors’ conceptions of career management skills. Sage Open. 2020;10(4):2158244020968778. doi: 10.1177/2158244020968778.
  43. Jungers CM, Gregoire J. Authenticity in ethical decision making: reflections for professional counselors. J Humanist Couns. 2016;55(2):99-110. doi: 10.1002/johc.12027.
  44. Viera CA, Freer K. Barriers and enablers to data-driven decision making by high school counselors and advisors. Perform Improv. 2015;54(10):30-40. doi: 10.1002/pfi.21533.
  45. Duffy RD, Torrey CL, Bott EM, Allan BA, Schlosser LZ. Time management, passion, and collaboration: a qualitative study of highly research productive counseling psychologists. Couns Psychol. 2012;41(6):881-917. doi: 10.1177/0011000012457994.
Journal of Qualitative Research in Health Sciences
Volume 13, Issue 4
December 2024
Pages 194-203
Files
History
  • Receive Date: 29 July 2023
  • Revise Date: 05 September 2024
  • Accept Date: 14 September 2024
Share
How to cite
Statistics