Counseling Psychology Research Guide

When evaluating a web site, check these basic points:

• Author – if you cannot determine who is responsible for the content of a website (either an individual or organization), you won't be able to gauge their expertise or relationship to the subject. 
• Domain – the last segment of the "root" of the URL (for example, hnu.edu) will tell you if the source of information is educational (.edu), governmental (.gov), or commercial (.com).
• Date of creation or revision – it is important to establish that any content containing data, facts or statistics is up-to-date and still relevant.
• Intended audience – if the content is intended for an academic audience, the website should provide information that can be verified using citations or external links.  
• Purpose of the information – the ratio of content to advertisement will tell you whether the site is being used to inform readers, or to make money.

• American Counseling Association Code of Ethics 

  The American Counseling Association has published a new Code of Ethics for 2014, supplanting the 2005 edition.
• American Psychological Association 

  The main page of the APA has the latest on several topics of concern in mental health research, clinical practice, and advocacy issues related to psychology as a profession.
• Buros Institute - How to use Mental Measures Yearbook 

  The Buros Institute of Mental Measures complied lessons and tools on how to use, cite and evaluate tests.
• California Board of Behavioral Sciences 

  The CA BBS is the state agency that oversees licensing of MFTs, LPCCs, LCSWs, and Licensed Educational Psychologists (LEPs). It contains the latest on regulations, forms, and information concerning the counseling psychology professions.
• National Institute of Mental Health 

  The NIMH is a federal agency with the mission to "transform the understanding and treatment of mental illnesses through basic and clinical research, paving the way for prevention, recovery, and cure."