What are the key concepts and variables that would need to be operationalized in the example below? How you might operationalize these variables if conducting a research study to address the gap identified in each problem statement. 

 

 

Example: 

 

The problem to be addressed was counselor trainees' (CTs) risk for counselor burnout and the need for simple tools that will maximize counselor effectiveness (Bardhoshi et al., 2019; Cook et al., 2021; Fulton, 2016; Johnson et al, 2019; Leonard et al., 2018; Yang & Hayes, 2020). Mindfulness practices encourage developmental growth in CTs while providing tools to avert counseling-related stressors from turning into compassion fatigue or burnout (Reilly, 2016). However, most research has examined mindfulness in the context of therapeutic groups (Burnett-Ziegler et al., 2016; Goldberg, 2020; Klawonn et al., 2019). It has been well-established that mindfulness practices are especially useful in treating depression, anxiety, trauma, and stress (Burnett-Zeigler, 2016; Fulton et al., 2015; Reilly, 2016). Researchers have discovered that the stress levels of graduate students in the mental health field are greater than those of graduate students in purely academic fields and can impact on a student's mood, well-being, and decision-making skills (Dye et al., 2019). Some counselor education programs introduce one-term courses on mind/body wellness and the use of mindfulness as a form of self-care, but there are only a few examples of these practices being integrated into core coursework as a daily or weekly regimen (Dye et al., 2019). 

 

In research on mindfulness practices of CTs experiencing mindfulness coursework, Fulton (2016) found 62% reported having a personal mindfulness practice consisting of mostly yoga, occurring less than weekly. Johnson et al. (2019) found that 30.8% of CTs reported no personal mindfulness practice, 25.3% reported a personal mindfulness practice less than once a week, 27.5% engaged in a personal mindfulness practice one to three times per week, and 16.5% reported engagement in a personal mindfulness practice four or more times a week. Neither of these studies explored the impact of the practice on the lives of the students. With evidence that a mindful state is beneficial to counselor development (Arslan, 2016; Reilly, 2016), counselor self-care (Arslan, 2016; Coaston & Lawrence, 2019), and the counseling process (Fulton, 2016; Johnson, 2019), research was needed to investigate mindfulness as an independent or personal self-care practice among mental health counselors. Also, the relationship between type and frequency of mindfulness practices and levels of mindfulness and emotional empathy should be investigated.