Janet G. Lenz

Dysfunctional Thinking and Difficulties in Career Decision Making.

The present study examined the relationships between two measures of career readiness and difficulties—the Career Thoughts Inventory (CTI) and the Career Decision-Making Difficulties Questionnaire (CDDQ)—as well as the relations between these measures and the individual’s degree of decidedness regarding his or her career plans. A total of 192 university students enrolled in a career-planning class filled out both questionnaires. As hypothesized, the two measures overlapped significantly. There was a highly significant correlation (corrected for attenuation) between the total scores of the questionnaires (r= .82), but the correlations between the questionnaires’ subscales varied between –.03 and .83. Both the CTI and the CDDQ distinguish among individuals at different stages of the career decision-making process. As hypothesized, participants with a higher degree of decidedness reported lower levels of difficulties. Implications of the unique features of each of the measures for career-related interventions and further research are discussed.

The Design and Use of a Measure of Dysfunctional Career Thoughts Among Adults, College Students, and High School Students: The Career Thoughts Inventory:

This article reviews the impact of dysfunctional career thinking on career choice, the use of cognitive restructuring to identify, challenge, and alter dysfunctional cognition, and the limitations of existing readiness screening and cognitive restructuring procedures. The recently developed Career Thoughts Inventory (CTI) can be used by practitioners to assist adults, college students, and high school students to identify, challenge, and alter dysfunctional career thoughts, and then subsequently take action to make career choices. The cognitive information processing and cognitive therapy theoretical bases of the instrument are described, followed by a discussion of the development of the CTI and the CTI Workbook. Data are then presented on the readability, standardization, reliability (internal consistency and stability), and validity (content, construct, convergent, and criterion) of the measure. The use of the CTI is then described in terms of screening, needs assessment, and learning. Issues related to terminology, diversity, and utility are also discussed. The article concludes with a discussion of preliminary experience in using the CTI in practice.

Big Questions Facing Vocational Psychology: A Cognitive Information Processing Perspective

This article draws upon the authors’ experience in developing cognitive information processing theory in order to examine three important questions facing vocational psychology and assessment: (a) Where should new knowledge for vocational psychology come from? (b) How do career theories and research find their way into practice? and (c) What is the nature of career development and vocational choice in a global economy? Topics include the interdisciplinary nature of knowledge in this field, the extensive information provided by established career theories and applications, the ongoing need to inform practice through theory and research, the transformation and dissemination of knowledge from the laboratory to the field, and the common themes among education and work issues in a global economy.

A Comparison Study of the Paper-and-Pencil, Personal Computer, and Internet Versions of Holland's Self-Directed Search.

Abstract The authors examined the extent to which the Realistic. Investigative, Artistic, Social. Enterprising, and Conventional scales and 3-point codes of the Self-Directed Search may be considered statistically and practically equivalent across 3 different modes of administration: paper-and-pencil, personal computer, and Internet. Student preferences for the respective versions were also examined.

Confounding Effects of Construct Overlap

Theoretical constructs serve important roles in facilitating information and knowledge flows among, between and within information systems researchers and practitioners. In order for the benefits of constructs to be fully exploited, they must be appropriately applied and operationalized. Describes a controlled field study, examining users′ satisfaction with a decision support system, undertaken to point out the dangers of misapplying constructs and their measurement scales. Particular consideration is given to the risks associated with the use of general instruments in situations where more narrowly focused and context‐specific instruments are preferred.

Goal Instability in Relation to Career Thoughts, Decision State, and Performance in a Career Course

Goal instability and its relation to career thoughts, decision state, and performance in an undergraduate career course in a large university were investigated in this study. Participants completed six instruments measuring the nature of goals, career thinking, occupational decision making, satisfaction with career choice, tension associated with career decisions, and a performance contract of course activities to be completed for a grade. Bivariate correlations and multiple regression analyses indicated that the degree of goal instability was directly related to negative career thoughts, dissatisfaction with career choice, career tension, and inversely related to classroom performance. Results of the analyses suggested that goal instability may serve as an initial global screening measure of readiness for career exploration in a classroom environment. The use of supplementary readiness measures is discussed.

Holland's theory and effective use of computer-assisted career guidance systems

A variety of client characteristics, drawn primarily from John Hollands theory and constructs, were used to examine client reactions to using a computer-assisted career guidance system. The subjects were 206 individuals who sought assistance at a university-based career center. A regression analysis revealed that persons with higher Social and Enterprising scores rated the system lower on its ability to help them acquire self and occupational knowledge.

Computer-assisted career guidance: Improving the design and use of systems

This paper presents and analyzes recommendations developed by system developers, policy makers, researchers/evaluators, and practitioners for improving the design and use of computer-assisted career guidance (CACG) systems.

Career Assessment in a Time of Changing Roles, Relationships, and Contexts

Given emerging roles, relationships, and contexts for career service delivery, we speculate that career assessment will increasingly focus on determining readiness for career problem solving and decision making. These changes will enable career shoppers (persons previewing career materials or services before committing to them) and career helpers (persons with varied training and skills providing career assistance) to make collaborative decisions about self-help, brief staff-assisted, or individual case-managed career services. Both individual capability and situational complexity will be assessed in determining readiness, and career theories will be used to review and structure the variables involved in readiness assessment. Career helpers working directly and indirectly with career shoppers in new service delivery contexts will play varied roles in mediating the career assessment process. The Internet will enable career shoppers to directly participate in comprehensive career assessment. Implications for the nature of career assessments, costs, requisite skills and licenses for administration, and ethical guidelines for use of career assessments are discussed.

The Impact of the Self-Directed Search Form R Internet Version on Counselor-Free Career Exploration

College students (N = 125) volunteered to participate in a study of career exploratory behavior. Participants were randomly assigned to complete the Self-Directed Search Form R (SDS: R) Internet version or to a control group that did not complete the SDS. Results indicated that individuals who completed the SDS: R Internet and reviewed the Interpretive Report engaged in a greater frequency of exploratory career behaviors over 3 weeks and were considering more occupational alternatives than members of the control group. The amount to time spent reviewing the SDS Interpretive Report by members of the treatment group was also associated with greater frequency of career exploratory behavior and with the increased number of occupations being considered. Furthermore, vocational identity was found to mediate the relationship between minutes reviewing the SDS report and the number of occupations considered, but not the frequency of occupations explored. Anxiety as a potential second mediating variable was not associated with either. Implications for practice are discussed.