Data Collection and Outcome Measurement in Student Counseling Services in Irish Higher Education Institutions: Counselors’ Views on Challenges and Facilitators

Abstract

With increasing concerns around student mental health, student counseling services (SCSs) in higher education are being challenged to show evidence of their contribution to the personal and academic development of students through evidence-based approaches including systematic data collection and standardized outcome measurement. This study aims to document data collection and measurement processes in SCSs in higher education institutions (HEIs) in Ireland and to explore the opinions of staff in SCSs on the feasibility and functionality of a standardized national database for SCSs to enhance robust data collection and measurement across the sector. Twenty-three interviews were conducted and thematically analyzed with staff in SCSs in 22 HEIs (85% of publicly funded HEIs). Findings revealed that the process of data collection in SCSs is mainly focused on individual counseling with variations among SCSs in collecting clients’ demography, presenting issues, and clinical and educational outcomes. Lack of human and financial resources, no access to an electronic data management system, negative opinions about standardized outcome measures, and concerns over data protection and misuse of data were impeding factors for systematic data collection in SCSs. There is strong support among SCSs for the establishment of a national database which is facilitated by secured funding from the Higher Education Authority, a strong sense of community and trust among student counselors, and a history of data collection through the Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education Ireland association. Findings offer insights into challenges and facilitators for robust data collection and measurement at a national level.