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Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Hyperscanning Study in Psychological Counseling
Published on: January 17, 2025
Using the counselling interview to collect research data on sensitive topics
Journal of Health Psychology
|October 21, 2011
Summary
Researchers can improve sensitive health interviews by using counseling skills. This approach supports participants and enhances data quality in qualitative research.
Area of Science:
- Qualitative Health Research
- Psychological Support in Research
- Interview Methodology
Background:
- Interviews on sensitive topics can cause participant distress.
- Ethical research requires addressing potential psychological harm.
- Interviewers need skills to manage participant distress.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the ethical challenges of interviewing about sensitive health topics.
- To propose the integration of counseling skills into research interviews.
- To demonstrate the utility of the counseling interview in data collection.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing counseling attributes and skills during research interviews.
- Applying the counseling interview as a data collection tool.
- Illustrating with a case study on AIDS-related bereavement among gay men.
Main Results:
- Counseling skills provide therapeutic and supportive functions for interviewees.
- Skills aid in understanding experiences and cathartic disclosure.
- Counseling approach enhances rapport, encourages elaboration, and identifies data associations.
Conclusions:
- Integrating counseling skills is an ethical and effective method for sensitive health research interviews.
- The counseling interview benefits both participants and research objectives.
- This approach strengthens the validity and depth of qualitative data.
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