Joshua C. Watson

Establishing Evidence for Internal Structure Using Exploratory Factor Analysis

ABSTRACT Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) is a data reduction technique used to condense data into smaller sets of summary variables by identifying underlying factors potentially accounting for patterns of collinearity among said variables. Using an illustrative example, the 5 general steps of EFA are described with best practices for decision making provided.

Standards of Care for Research with Participants Who Identify as LGBTQ

ABSTRACT The following standards of care have been developed to support the continued development of research with individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, plus individuals whose orientations differ from those who identify as heterosexual and cisgender (LGBTQ+). The guidelines presented are conceived as a working document that reflect the current state and body of knowledge that can inform and provide reference for counseling research, and can be used in the preparation and training of future researchers. The standards outlined in this document will continue to evolve as does research, LGBTQ+ communities, and the sociopolitical climate.

Calculating and Reporting Estimates of Effect Size in Counseling Outcome Research

The reporting effect sizes (ESs) and confidence intervals (CIs) of ESs has become recommended practice in the social sciences; however, these values are frequently omitted by authors in manuscripts submitted forPUBLICation. Consequently, the meaningfulness and clinical relevance of their findings go unaddressed. As a result, a growing number of scholarly journals now require researchers to incorporate findings of clinical significance in their reporting of results. In this article, we review the most common conventions used for estimating and reporting ESs and CIs of ESs and illustrate how researchers can compute and interpret these measures of practical significance.

The Effect of Athletic Identity and Locus of Control on the Stress Perceptions of Community College Student-Athletes

Abstract Over 72,000 student-athletes compete annually in athletic programs at the community college level. However, research addressing the effect of athletic participation on the psychological well-being of the community college student-athlete is sparse. This study represents an attempt to address this gap by examining the relationship among perceived stress, athletic identity, and locus of control in 144 student-athletes enrolled across three community colleges located in the southern United States. Utilizing hierarchical multiple regression analyses, the hypothesized two-factor predictor model was determined to account for 20% of the variance in student-athletes’ perceived stress. Additionally, results indicated that athletic identity represents a unique contribution to the variance in perceived stress. Suggestions for future research and implications for community college athletic department personnel, administrators, and college counselors were presented.

Development and Evaluation of the Inventory of New College Student Adjustment

The Inventory of New College Student Adjustment (INCA) was developed to assist college student personnel in assessing adjustment difficulties experienced by first-year college students. A sample of 474 first-year college students (282 women, 59%; 192 men, 41%) enrolled in a first-year seminar course at a medium-sized 4-year university in the central southern region of the United States completed the INCA. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses confirmed a two-factor scale explaining 47.17% of the variance in scores. Convergent validity analyses support the INCA as a sufficiently valid measure suitable for use as a brief screening tool in both research and practice settings.

Psychometric Properties of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support Within Hispanic College Students

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the psychometric properties of the Multidimensional Scale of Perceived Social Support (MSPSS) within a sample of Hispanic college students. The sample of 223 Hispanic or Latino/a college students consisting of 142 women (65%) and 79 men (35%) was recruited from a Hispanic serving institution in the southern United States. The results of factor analysis confirmed the three-subscale structure of the MSPSS: family, friend, and a significant other.

Using Profile Analysis in Counseling Outcome Research

ABSTRACT Profile analysis is a multivariate data analysis technique used to examine performance on tests, subtests, or scores by identifying profile pattern and shape. In this article, we provide a conceptual overview of profile analysis, highlight its utility to both counseling researchers and practitioners, and describe a general step-by-step procedure to conducting profile analysis using a counseling outcome-specific illustration. Best practice decision-making recommendations are provided at each step. Implications for counselors, counseling researchers, and counselor educators are provided.

Contributing to the Journal of College Counseling: How You Can Help Build the College Counseling Knowledge Base

Since 1998, the Journal of College Counseling (JCC) has served as a valuable resource for college counselors seeking to increase their knowledge and better assist the students who present for services on their campuses. Now in its 17th year of production, JCC continues to enjoy great visibility. Articles published in the journal are regularly cited in many well-respected journals, and the number of submissions our editorial staff receives increases each year. As editor, I would like to encourage you to become a contributor and submit your manuscripts to the journal. We are currently accepting manuscripts in three categories: Research, Professional Issues and Innovative Practices, and Case Studies. A copy of the author guidelines is included in this issue for you to use as a guide as you develop your manuscript. In addition, I am always willing to discuss potential manuscript ideas with prospective authors. I know many readers are doing great work on their campuses and believe that sharing these ideas and strategies will help counselors on college and university campuses nationwide better serve their student clients and further evidence the value of the work we do. As I look to the future, my hope is that you consider JCC as an outlet for your research and that I receive a submission from you to review. In this issue, six research articles are included that will appeal to readers and add to the knowledge base guiding best practices on college and university campuses. As college counseling centers continue to experience an increase in the number of students presenting for services (Gallagher, 2013), the articles included in this issue offer insights and direction that will allow counselors to better assess and triage their clients so that appropriate services can be provided in a timely manner. When appropriate services are provided, counseling becomes a far more productive and effective endeavor. In the first article, Frederick Lopez and his colleagues explore the relationship between facets of self-esteem and depression among college women. Surveying female students at the beginning and end of an academic semester, they found a significant link between the phenomenological experience of fluctuating self-esteem and depression. On the basis of these findings, the authors offer suggestions for counseling treatment approaches that may be effective with this population. In the second article, the self-reported suicidal experiences and help-seeking behaviors of culturally diverse students are examined. Using results from a national survey of college student mental health, Chris Brownson and his coauthors found evidence supporting the existence of significant differences in the expression of suicidal thoughts and behavior across racial and ethnic groups. They also found different experiences in the referral for, and utilization of, professional help among the various cultural groups assessed. …