Read the posts of your peers below and respond.Expand the discussion by asking or answering a question, offering an alternative perspective, or sharing a resource.

Peer 1

Provide an example of a way in which a researcher in counseling could find themselves acting unethically.

There are numerous ways counselors could find themselves performing unethical behavior while conducting research, specifically, assessing the risks of conducting research based on minors. School counselors following the Golden Rule could find themselves performing unethical practices when there is a large risk to students, the welfare of the student is in danger, research is being performed without a waiver, or if the student isn't notified and aware of data, effects, etc. (Capella Media). The Common Rule also heavily aligns with the American School Counseling Association's ethical standards as it's mentioned in Section A.2.a that all data collected must be within the correct legal and ethical procedures for school counselors concerning confidentiality (ASCA, 2016).

What measures might the researcher take to prevent this from happening?

One particular way researchers in counseling could prevent breaking the Common Rule should be to not engage in the collection of data if the student is at large risk, protect the welfare of the students, collect waiver from parental figures if a minor, and inform the student of research being conducted. It can also be in the best interest of the counselor to protect the confidentiality of data collected, particularly keeping data in a safe, secure location (Balkin, 2017).

Peer 2

For this discussion, imagine a young couple who has just had their first child. They are seeking your help because they have been feeling disconnected from each other. One of them would like to try out a new sexual activity, but the other does not want to try anything new at this time. Is this a problem? If so, is it resolvable? How should the couple resolve it? Does the answer depend on the type of sexual activity? What does it mean to be sexually compatible? Is there a place for compromise and negotiation in sex, or does it all depend on mutual understanding?

When working with these clients, it would be important to understand how they engage with each other and the factors of their relationship. For example, we don't have information beyond a young couple who just had a child. This doesn't necessarily tell us things such as if they gave birth to the child or if they had a less traditional way of having a child (surrogacy, adoption, etc.) Also, we don't know the gender identities of the clients and other factors such as those. Another factor is their marital status and whether this is important to them. Hyde (2019) discussed how, in society, marriage is the most legitimate way of sexual expression, and this means that sex in marriage is how adults commonly express themselves sexually. Hyde (2019) also goes on to explain that the average time a week that married couples engage sexually is 2-3 times per week at the start of marriage. However, this often declines as couples get older. This is due to biological aging and habituation with their partner (Hyde, 2019). This would be an important consideration as habituation could be an important factor with this couple as one is asking about trying something new. Another factor is the application of physical and emotional connections in satisfaction with marital sex. Hyde (2019) analyzes data from NHSLS, which indicates that married people are more satisfied than cohabitation and single people and that this indicates more satisfaction with stronger emotional commitment and connection.

When working with this couple, it would be important first to get an understanding of how their relationship looks day to day. This involves the role of sex in their relationship before the introduction of a child, what it looks like now, and how they expect it to look when satisfactory. This could mean what type of sexual activity they want, whether they are compatible with each other, compromise and negotiation, and whether they understand each other. Overall, communication is critical for their relationship to continue. This communication includes things such as negotiation, which Hyde (2019) describes in terms of developing sexual scripts. Some of these scripts involve direct verbal statements. "The more often they reported using sexual language, the greater their satisfaction on both measures and their reported closeness" (Hyde, p. 242, 2019). This communication also includes compromise and gaining a better understanding of each other. Understanding of each other could include things such as each person gaining an understanding of why one wants to try new things while they other is not. With work towards the aspects of communication, this couple can put work into growing together and are not doomed to be unresolved.

Hyde, J. (2019). Understanding human sexuality. (14th ed.). McGraw-Hill Higher Education.