Professional Research

GSCA does not distribute research surveys on behalf of members or the public.  However, in the interest of furthering the research that makes school counselors able to better themselves and assisting those who are in pursuit of higher degrees, we post surveys which have been screened by the GSCA Journal Editor for validity. We ask that school counselors participate as they are able in order to continue and support research in the field.

If you have a survey/research you would like posted below, please email info@gaschoolcounselor.org.  Please include the exact text you would like published and a copy of the IRB approval letter.   Your request will be reviewed and approved by our review committee before it will be posted.


Posted 3/20/26

My name is Candace H. Washington, and I am a PhD Candidate in the School of Building Construction at the Georgia Institute of Technology. I am conducting a research study examining school counselors’ knowledge and confidence in advising students about construction management career pathways.

School counselors play a vital role in helping students explore career options. However, many students are unfamiliar with careers in the construction industry, including construction management, one of the fastest-growing professional fields in the United States. (While construction trades involve hands-on careers such as electricians, carpenters, and plumbers, construction management focuses on planning and leading building projects, coordinating teams, schedules, budgets, and safety.)

This study seeks to better understand school counselors’ perspectives and experiences when advising students about these career opportunities. The results of this research will inform future professional development resources specifically designed for school counselors.

Georgia counselors are underrepresented in research on career pathway advising, and your perspective will help ensure Georgia students are better informed about construction management careers. Your perspective as a school counselor is extremely valuable.

What Participation Involves:

  • Participation involves completing a brief online survey that takes approximately 8–10 minutes.
  • Participation is voluntary, and responses will remain confidential.


Eligibility Requirements:

  • Participants must currently serve as a school counselor in a Georgia middle or high school


Survey Link https://gatech.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3rNMjD6OlwKRqbc

Your participation will help improve awareness of career pathways available to Georgia students.

Contact Information
Candace H. Washington
PhD Candidate, School of Building Construction
Georgia Institute of Technology
cwashington@gatech.edu


Posted 2/23/26

Greetings and Salutations - 
Interview Study Seeks Black American School Counselors That Have Experienced Racial Discrimination in the Workplace
About the Study -

Workplace discrimination happens when someone is treated unfairly at work because of personal characteristics that are not related to their ability to do their job. These can include race, gender, sexual orientation, disability, age, political beliefs, or religion. In 2016, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) received more than 35,000 complaints of workplace discrimination related to race or skin color.
You are invited to share your experiences of racial discrimination in the workplace as a school counselor.
What Participation Involves -
• Invited to engage in the initial interview for approximately 60-minutes (10-minute introduction to clarify any questions and review informed consent, 40-minute semi-structured interview via video conference or face-to-face that will be recorded, and 10-minutes to complete a short debrief and conclude the interview).
• You will be provided with a summary of your interview for review by email so you can confirm my interpretation and make corrections if needed (15-30 minute review time).
Eligibility Requirements
Participants must:
• Identify as Black, Black American, or African American
• Be currently licensed and/or state-certified in school counseling
• Have worked in a K–12 school setting for 5+ years
• Hold at least a master’s degree in counselor education; and
• Have experienced racial discrimination in the workplace
This interview is part of the doctoral study of Tiffany Jackson, Ph.D. student at Walden University. Interviews are currently being conducted.
To confidentially volunteer, contact the researcher: Tiffany Jackson via email at tiffany.jackson12@waldenu.edu

Posted 3/20/26

Greetings, Georgia School Counselors,

My name is Candace H. Washington, and I am a PhD Candidate in the School of Building Construction at the Georgia Institute of Technology. I am conducting a research study examining school counselors’ knowledge and confidence in advising students about construction management career pathways.

School counselors play a vital role in helping students explore career options. However, many students are unfamiliar with careers in the construction industry, including construction management, one of the fastest-growing professional fields in the United States. (While construction

trades involve hands-on careers such as electricians, carpenters, and plumbers, construction management focuses on planning and leading building projects, coordinating teams, schedules, budgets, and safety.)

This study seeks to better understand school counselors’ perspectives and experiences when advising students about these career opportunities. The results of this research will inform future professional development resources specifically designed for school counselors.

Georgia counselors are underrepresented in research on career pathway advising, and your perspective will help ensure Georgia students are better informed about construction management careers. Your perspective as a school counselor is extremely valuable.

What Participation Involves:

  • Participation involves completing a brief online survey that takes approximately 8–10 minutes.
  • Participation is voluntary, and responses will remain confidential.


Eligibility Requirements:

  • Participants must:
    • Currently serve as a school counselor in a Georgia middle or high school 

Survey Link: https://gatech.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3rNMjD6OlwKRqbc

Your participation will help improve awareness of career pathways available to Georgia students.

Contact Information 
Candace H. Washington PhD Candidate, School of Building Construction
Georgia Institute of Technology
cwashington@gatech.edu


Posted 11/24/25

Help Shape the Future of School Counseling and AI!

We invite all school counselors to participate in the National Survey of School Counselors’ Practices and Perspectives on Artificial Intelligence (AI). Your voice matters! This research will inform future policies and ethical guidelines for AI use in school counseling.

The survey is short(5 minutes), confidential, and accessible on any device.
Take the survey today: https://survey.unf.edu/jfe/form/SV_6WNb0QmYMdqfibc 

Why participate?

  • Influence national standards and best practices
  • Ensure safe and effective integration of AI in counseling
  • Represent your state’s perspective in this important conversation

Please share this opportunity widely with your colleagues and networks. Together, we can shape the future of school counseling!

Thank you for contributing to this important research effort. If you have any questions, please contact us at annu.k@unf.edu.

Annu Kallarackal
Graduate Research Assistant
Department of Leadership, School Counseling, & Sport Management
College of Education & Human Services
University of North Florida


Posted 11/21/25

Psychologists from the Georgia Psychological Foundation (GPF), faculty and doctoral students from the Department of Clinical Psychology at Mercer University, and faculty at Mercer’s Tift College of Education are working together because we would like to contribute our resources toward supporting the mental health needs of middle and high school students across Georgia. We are taking a first step by conducting a needs assessment to learn what is already in place in schools and how we might help! We are thus contacting school personnel across the state of Georgia to please complete this BRIEF survey to help us gather information to help you in the important work you do! We are hoping to have all the information collected by Friday, December 5th. The link is below.

 https://merceruniversity.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5zGef3k7DgXwVHU

Sincerely,

Michelle M. Robbins, Ph.D.

Chair and Clinical Professor

Department of Clinical Psychology

Mercer University