South African Counselling Psychology Masters Students Dissertation/Research Survey

This study aims to develop guidelines to improve research training and support for Postgraduate Masters Counselling Psychology students at South African universities.

By proceeding with this survey, you confirm that you are 18 years of age or older and consent to participate voluntarily. Your responses will be kept confidential and used exclusively for research purposes.

We appreciate the valuable insights and contributions you have provided below.

Please read the informed consent form here

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1dbSVLrSQV4JiKAl4Intb1UaoLtNiodP6/view?usp=sharing

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* 1. What is your gender?

Female

Male

Other (specify)

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* 2. What is your current age?

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* 3. At which university are you currently enrolled for the Master's degree in Counselling Psychology? (for statistical purposes only)

University of Fort Hare (UFH)

Free State University

Nelson Mandela University (NMMU)

Rhodes University

University Of Johannesburg

University Of Kwazulu-Natal (Howard Campus)

University Of Kwazulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg)

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* 4. What is your current registration level?

Student Psychologist (Masters Year 1)

Intern Psychologist (Masters Year 2)

Intern Psychologist (Masters Year 3)

Masters Year 4

Masters Year 5

Masters Year 6 or more

Other (please specify)

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* 5. How long after registration, did you start with your research?

3-6 months (Semester 1)

6-12 months (Semester 2)

Internship Year

Year after internship

Other (please specify)

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* 6. My university provided an orientation session for my masters research programme at the start (year 1)

Yes

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* 7. At which stage are you in your research?

Topic selection stage

Research proposal stage

Literature review stage

Departmental proposal defense

Ethical clearance

Awaiting permission from gatekeeper to collect data

Data collection

Data analysis

Final write-up

Submission for examination

Making corrections after examination

Graduation stage

Publication stage

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* 8. Please answer the following questions based on the scale provided

	Very poor	Poor	Average	Good	Very good
How would you rate your knowledge to write your research proposal	How would you rate your knowledge to write your research proposal Very poor	How would you rate your knowledge to write your research proposal Poor	How would you rate your knowledge to write your research proposal Average	How would you rate your knowledge to write your research proposal Good	How would you rate your knowledge to write your research proposal Very good
How would you rate your skills to search for references on the university data base	How would you rate your skills to search for references on the university data base Very poor	How would you rate your skills to search for references on the university data base Poor	How would you rate your skills to search for references on the university data base Average	How would you rate your skills to search for references on the university data base Good	How would you rate your skills to search for references on the university data base Very good
How would you rate the training you received to search and access relevant literature for your study	How would you rate the training you received to search and access relevant literature for your study Very poor	How would you rate the training you received to search and access relevant literature for your study Poor	How would you rate the training you received to search and access relevant literature for your study Average	How would you rate the training you received to search and access relevant literature for your study Good	How would you rate the training you received to search and access relevant literature for your study Very good

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* 9. Relating to the question above, how did you receive training?

Online training

In-person training

Group training

Individual training (consultation)

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* 10. Which of the following training did you receive throughout your studies (Select all possible answers)

A research methods module in undergraduate

A research methods module in honours

A research methods module in masters coursework

Additional workshops on research methods at the university

A proposal writing workshop

A literature review workshop

A workshop on data collection

A workshop on data analysis

A workshop on dissertation writing

Other (please specify)

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* 11. Do/did you attend regular supervision?

Yes

To some extent

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* 12. I attend/attended supervision

Weekly

Monthly

Per semester

On request (by my supervisor)

On request (by me)

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* 13. Please answer the following questions based on the scale provided

	1.Not at all	2. Rarely	3. Sometimes	4. Most of the time	5. All the time
I am/was nervous/anxious about my research	I am/was nervous/anxious about my research 1.Not at all	I am/was nervous/anxious about my research 2. Rarely	I am/was nervous/anxious about my research 3. Sometimes	I am/was nervous/anxious about my research 4. Most of the time	I am/was nervous/anxious about my research 5. All the time
I often seek help for my research from my professor	I often seek help for my research from my professor 1.Not at all	I often seek help for my research from my professor 2. Rarely	I often seek help for my research from my professor 3. Sometimes	I often seek help for my research from my professor 4. Most of the time	I often seek help for my research from my professor 5. All the time
I find the research support from the academic staff at my university valuable for my research	I find the research support from the academic staff at my university valuable for my research 1.Not at all	I find the research support from the academic staff at my university valuable for my research 2. Rarely	I find the research support from the academic staff at my university valuable for my research 3. Sometimes	I find the research support from the academic staff at my university valuable for my research 4. Most of the time	I find the research support from the academic staff at my university valuable for my research 5. All the time
I am/was familiar with the research requirements for proposal writing	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for proposal writing 1.Not at all	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for proposal writing 2. Rarely	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for proposal writing 3. Sometimes	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for proposal writing 4. Most of the time	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for proposal writing 5. All the time
My supervisor is/was able to help me navigate through the research process	My supervisor is/was able to help me navigate through the research process 1.Not at all	My supervisor is/was able to help me navigate through the research process 2. Rarely	My supervisor is/was able to help me navigate through the research process 3. Sometimes	My supervisor is/was able to help me navigate through the research process 4. Most of the time	My supervisor is/was able to help me navigate through the research process 5. All the time

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* 14. Please answer the following questions based on the scale provided

	Not at all	Rarely	Sometimes	Most of the time	All the time
I have/had so many coursework responsibilities that I could not do my research	I have/had so many coursework responsibilities that I could not do my research Not at all	I have/had so many coursework responsibilities that I could not do my research Rarely	I have/had so many coursework responsibilities that I could not do my research Sometimes	I have/had so many coursework responsibilities that I could not do my research Most of the time	I have/had so many coursework responsibilities that I could not do my research All the time
I often seek help for my research from my lecturers	I often seek help for my research from my lecturers Not at all	I often seek help for my research from my lecturers Rarely	I often seek help for my research from my lecturers Sometimes	I often seek help for my research from my lecturers Most of the time	I often seek help for my research from my lecturers All the time
My motivation is helping/helped me to progress with my research	My motivation is helping/helped me to progress with my research Not at all	My motivation is helping/helped me to progress with my research Rarely	My motivation is helping/helped me to progress with my research Sometimes	My motivation is helping/helped me to progress with my research Most of the time	My motivation is helping/helped me to progress with my research All the time
I am/was able to balance my research responsibilities with my coursework fairly good	I am/was able to balance my research responsibilities with my coursework fairly good Not at all	I am/was able to balance my research responsibilities with my coursework fairly good Rarely	I am/was able to balance my research responsibilities with my coursework fairly good Sometimes	I am/was able to balance my research responsibilities with my coursework fairly good Most of the time	I am/was able to balance my research responsibilities with my coursework fairly good All the time
I have/had so many personal responsibilities, that I don't have time to do my research	I have/had so many personal responsibilities, that I don't have time to do my research Not at all	I have/had so many personal responsibilities, that I don't have time to do my research Rarely	I have/had so many personal responsibilities, that I don't have time to do my research Sometimes	I have/had so many personal responsibilities, that I don't have time to do my research Most of the time	I have/had so many personal responsibilities, that I don't have time to do my research All the time

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* 15. Please answer the following questions based on the scale provided

	Not at all	Rarely	Sometimes	Most of the time	All the time
I learnt a lot from my research supervisor	I learnt a lot from my research supervisor Not at all	I learnt a lot from my research supervisor Rarely	I learnt a lot from my research supervisor Sometimes	I learnt a lot from my research supervisor Most of the time	I learnt a lot from my research supervisor All the time
Library referencing workshops are/were freely available at my university	Library referencing workshops are/were freely available at my university Not at all	Library referencing workshops are/were freely available at my university Rarely	Library referencing workshops are/were freely available at my university Sometimes	Library referencing workshops are/were freely available at my university Most of the time	Library referencing workshops are/were freely available at my university All the time
I am/was able to balance my research and academic responsibilities fairly well	I am/was able to balance my research and academic responsibilities fairly well Not at all	I am/was able to balance my research and academic responsibilities fairly well Rarely	I am/was able to balance my research and academic responsibilities fairly well Sometimes	I am/was able to balance my research and academic responsibilities fairly well Most of the time	I am/was able to balance my research and academic responsibilities fairly well All the time
I often seek help for my research from my peers	I often seek help for my research from my peers Not at all	I often seek help for my research from my peers Rarely	I often seek help for my research from my peers Sometimes	I often seek help for my research from my peers Most of the time	I often seek help for my research from my peers All the time
I am/was able to plan my research process well	I am/was able to plan my research process well Not at all	I am/was able to plan my research process well Rarely	I am/was able to plan my research process well Sometimes	I am/was able to plan my research process well Most of the time	I am/was able to plan my research process well All the time

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* 16. Please answer the following questions based on the scale provided

	1. Not at all	2.Rarely	3. Sometimes	4.Most of the time	5. All the time
I often seek help for my research from my supervisor	I often seek help for my research from my supervisor 1. Not at all	I often seek help for my research from my supervisor 2.Rarely	I often seek help for my research from my supervisor 3. Sometimes	I often seek help for my research from my supervisor 4.Most of the time	I often seek help for my research from my supervisor 5. All the time
I find the research support from my peers valuable for my research	I find the research support from my peers valuable for my research 1. Not at all	I find the research support from my peers valuable for my research 2.Rarely	I find the research support from my peers valuable for my research 3. Sometimes	I find the research support from my peers valuable for my research 4.Most of the time	I find the research support from my peers valuable for my research 5. All the time
I am/was equipped enough to collect my research data	I am/was equipped enough to collect my research data 1. Not at all	I am/was equipped enough to collect my research data 2.Rarely	I am/was equipped enough to collect my research data 3. Sometimes	I am/was equipped enough to collect my research data 4.Most of the time	I am/was equipped enough to collect my research data 5. All the time
I find the mental health support services provided by my university valuable for my research	I find the mental health support services provided by my university valuable for my research 1. Not at all	I find the mental health support services provided by my university valuable for my research 2.Rarely	I find the mental health support services provided by my university valuable for my research 3. Sometimes	I find the mental health support services provided by my university valuable for my research 4.Most of the time	I find the mental health support services provided by my university valuable for my research 5. All the time
I was/am aware of my department's research submission timelines for my research project	I was/am aware of my department's research submission timelines for my research project 1. Not at all	I was/am aware of my department's research submission timelines for my research project 2.Rarely	I was/am aware of my department's research submission timelines for my research project 3. Sometimes	I was/am aware of my department's research submission timelines for my research project 4.Most of the time	I was/am aware of my department's research submission timelines for my research project 5. All the time

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* 17. Please answer the following questions based on the scale provided

	1. Not at all	2. Rarely	3. Sometimes	4.Most of the time	5. All the time
I was/am easily distracted from my research responsibilities	I was/am easily distracted from my research responsibilities 1. Not at all	I was/am easily distracted from my research responsibilities 2. Rarely	I was/am easily distracted from my research responsibilities 3. Sometimes	I was/am easily distracted from my research responsibilities 4.Most of the time	I was/am easily distracted from my research responsibilities 5. All the time
I often seek help for my research from my programme coordinator	I often seek help for my research from my programme coordinator 1. Not at all	I often seek help for my research from my programme coordinator 2. Rarely	I often seek help for my research from my programme coordinator 3. Sometimes	I often seek help for my research from my programme coordinator 4.Most of the time	I often seek help for my research from my programme coordinator 5. All the time
I had so many practical (counselling) responsibilities that I could not do my research	I had so many practical (counselling) responsibilities that I could not do my research 1. Not at all	I had so many practical (counselling) responsibilities that I could not do my research 2. Rarely	I had so many practical (counselling) responsibilities that I could not do my research 3. Sometimes	I had so many practical (counselling) responsibilities that I could not do my research 4.Most of the time	I had so many practical (counselling) responsibilities that I could not do my research 5. All the time
I am/was able to balance my work and personal life fairly well	I am/was able to balance my work and personal life fairly well 1. Not at all	I am/was able to balance my work and personal life fairly well 2. Rarely	I am/was able to balance my work and personal life fairly well 3. Sometimes	I am/was able to balance my work and personal life fairly well 4.Most of the time	I am/was able to balance my work and personal life fairly well 5. All the time

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* 18. Please answer the following questions based on the scale provided

	1. Not at all	2. Rarely	3. Sometimes	4. Most of the time	5. All the time
I am/was familiar with the research requirements for my literature review	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for my literature review 1. Not at all	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for my literature review 2. Rarely	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for my literature review 3. Sometimes	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for my literature review 4. Most of the time	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for my literature review 5. All the time
Data collection workshops are/were freely available at my university	Data collection workshops are/were freely available at my university 1. Not at all	Data collection workshops are/were freely available at my university 2. Rarely	Data collection workshops are/were freely available at my university 3. Sometimes	Data collection workshops are/were freely available at my university 4. Most of the time	Data collection workshops are/were freely available at my university 5. All the time
I am/was familiar with the research requirements for data collection	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for data collection 1. Not at all	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for data collection 2. Rarely	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for data collection 3. Sometimes	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for data collection 4. Most of the time	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for data collection 5. All the time
Library referencing workshops are/were freely available at my university	Library referencing workshops are/were freely available at my university 1. Not at all	Library referencing workshops are/were freely available at my university 2. Rarely	Library referencing workshops are/were freely available at my university 3. Sometimes	Library referencing workshops are/were freely available at my university 4. Most of the time	Library referencing workshops are/were freely available at my university 5. All the time

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* 19. Please answer the following questions based on the scale provided

	Not at all	Rarely	Sometimes	Most of the time	All the time
I am/was familiar with the research requirements for my proposal defense	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for my proposal defense Not at all	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for my proposal defense Rarely	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for my proposal defense Sometimes	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for my proposal defense Most of the time	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for my proposal defense All the time
I feel/felt equipped enough to select literature for my research	I feel/felt equipped enough to select literature for my research Not at all	I feel/felt equipped enough to select literature for my research Rarely	I feel/felt equipped enough to select literature for my research Sometimes	I feel/felt equipped enough to select literature for my research Most of the time	I feel/felt equipped enough to select literature for my research All the time
Data analysis software workshops are/were freely available at my university (SPSS, Atlas Ti, Excel, NVivo)	Data analysis software workshops are/were freely available at my university (SPSS, Atlas Ti, Excel, NVivo) Not at all	Data analysis software workshops are/were freely available at my university (SPSS, Atlas Ti, Excel, NVivo) Rarely	Data analysis software workshops are/were freely available at my university (SPSS, Atlas Ti, Excel, NVivo) Sometimes	Data analysis software workshops are/were freely available at my university (SPSS, Atlas Ti, Excel, NVivo) Most of the time	Data analysis software workshops are/were freely available at my university (SPSS, Atlas Ti, Excel, NVivo) All the time
I am/was able to balance my research responsibilities with my coursework fairly good	I am/was able to balance my research responsibilities with my coursework fairly good Not at all	I am/was able to balance my research responsibilities with my coursework fairly good Rarely	I am/was able to balance my research responsibilities with my coursework fairly good Sometimes	I am/was able to balance my research responsibilities with my coursework fairly good Most of the time	I am/was able to balance my research responsibilities with my coursework fairly good All the time
I am/was familiar with the research requirements for my data analysis	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for my data analysis Not at all	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for my data analysis Rarely	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for my data analysis Sometimes	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for my data analysis Most of the time	I am/was familiar with the research requirements for my data analysis All the time

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* 20. Please answer the following questions based on the scale provided

	1. Not at all	2.Rarely	3. Sometimes	4. Most of the time	5. All the time
Data collection workshops, are/were freely available at my university	Data collection workshops, are/were freely available at my university 1. Not at all	Data collection workshops, are/were freely available at my university 2.Rarely	Data collection workshops, are/were freely available at my university 3. Sometimes	Data collection workshops, are/were freely available at my university 4. Most of the time	Data collection workshops, are/were freely available at my university 5. All the time
I think a research component is an important aspect of my training as a psychologist?	I think a research component is an important aspect of my training as a psychologist? 1. Not at all	I think a research component is an important aspect of my training as a psychologist? 2.Rarely	I think a research component is an important aspect of my training as a psychologist? 3. Sometimes	I think a research component is an important aspect of my training as a psychologist? 4. Most of the time	I think a research component is an important aspect of my training as a psychologist? 5. All the time
I feel/felt prepared enough to do the data analysis for my research	I feel/felt prepared enough to do the data analysis for my research 1. Not at all	I feel/felt prepared enough to do the data analysis for my research 2.Rarely	I feel/felt prepared enough to do the data analysis for my research 3. Sometimes	I feel/felt prepared enough to do the data analysis for my research 4. Most of the time	I feel/felt prepared enough to do the data analysis for my research 5. All the time
Academic writing workshops are/were freely available at my university	Academic writing workshops are/were freely available at my university 1. Not at all	Academic writing workshops are/were freely available at my university 2.Rarely	Academic writing workshops are/were freely available at my university 3. Sometimes	Academic writing workshops are/were freely available at my university 4. Most of the time	Academic writing workshops are/were freely available at my university 5. All the time

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* 21. I would like to invite you to participate in a more in-depth online focus group interview on your research experiences. I appreciate your valuable contribution to the study. Please share your contact details if you are willing to do so.

Email Address

Phone Number

South African Counselling Psychology Masters Students Dissertation/Research Survey

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* 1. What is your gender?

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* 2. What is your current age?

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* 3. At which university are you currently enrolled for the Master's degree in Counselling Psychology? (for statistical purposes only)

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* 4. What is your current registration level?

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* 5. How long after registration, did you start with your research?

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* 6. My university provided an orientation session for my masters research programme at the start (year 1)

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* 7. At which stage are you in your research?

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* 8. Please answer the following questions based on the scale provided

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* 9. Relating to the question above, how did you receive training?

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* 10. Which of the following training did you receive throughout your studies (Select all possible answers)

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* 11. Do/did you attend regular supervision?

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* 12. I attend/attended supervision

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* 13. Please answer the following questions based on the scale provided

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* 14. Please answer the following questions based on the scale provided

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* 15. Please answer the following questions based on the scale provided

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* 16. Please answer the following questions based on the scale provided

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* 17. Please answer the following questions based on the scale provided

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* 18. Please answer the following questions based on the scale provided

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* 19. Please answer the following questions based on the scale provided

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* 20. Please answer the following questions based on the scale provided

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* 21. I would like to invite you to participate in a more in-depth online focus group interview on your research experiences. I appreciate your valuable contribution to the study. Please share your contact details if you are willing to do so.

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* 22. We have reached the end of the survey. Thank you for your participation and invaluable input in this study. I really appreciate it.