Publication Alert
Meta-Study Examines How Counseling Researchers Report Content Analysis Methods
October 14, 2026
Bradley McKibben, PhD, Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Counselor Education, is a co-author of a new open-access article in the Journal of Counseling & Development. The study, "Content Analysis in Counseling Research: A Meta-Study of Methodological Components and Agreement Procedures," analyzed 373 content analysis articles published in 28 counseling journals between 1953 and 2024.
The authors found that reporting of methods has become more transparent over time, but gaps remain. For example, only 37% of the articles reported a specific interrater reliability index. The authors say the findings underscore the need for clearer reporting standards that support evaluation and reproducibility in counseling research.
McKibben co-authored the article with Edward Wahesh of Villanova University, Daniel A. DeCino of the University of South Dakota, Lucy L. Purgason of Oregon State University-Cascades, Phillip L. Waalkes of Western Carolina University, Monica Maria Phelps-Pineda of the University of Missouri-St. Louis, and Avery Peffer of Villanova University.