Genetic Counseling Research—A Practical Guide

Abstract

This book grew out of our conviction about the necessity for genetic counselors to contribute to the research literature that directs their profession (LeRoy & McCarthy Veach, 2008). When genetic counseling research is conducted primarily by individuals outside the profession, there is a risk that clinical practice and, indeed, the field itself are defined by someone else’s values, assumptions, and perspectives. We have argued elsewhere about the clinical wisdom that genetic counselors and genetic counseling students have to offer patients and other health professionals (cf. McCarthy Veach, 2004; McCarthy Veach et al., 2002). Dissemination of that knowledge through well-designed and executed studies will contribute to the growing literature on genetic counseling processes and outcomes, professional preparation, and service delivery. Over 450 students are enrolled in American Board of Genetic Counseling (ABGC) accredited programs in North America. Many are actively involved in some type of research/capstone project as part of their master’s degree requirements. These numbers are even larger when one considers students in genetic counseling programs in other countries. Thus, there are abundant research projects in progress, and they ultimately lead to papers that could be developed into manuscripts submitted for publication in professional journals. Many projects never make it to that stage, however, perhaps in part because students vary in their research knowledge, confidence, and experience.