Richard F. Haase

Effect of positive, negative, and mixed occupational information on cognitive and affective complexity

Abstract A series of concentrated research studies over the past 8 years has significantly demonstrated that cognitive complexity in the vocational realm is positively related to congruence or appropriateness of vocational choice. Moreover, research has shown that introducing occupational information significantly reduces, rather than increases, cognitive complexity. The results of the study reported here relate to changes in cognitive complexity as a function of the type of occupational information introduced, namely, information with respect to the advantages of occupations; the disadvantages of occupations, or a combination of positive and negative features of occupations. Our results clearly demonstrated that while positive occupational information alone leads to greater simplicity, negative or mixed information significantly retards the trend toward greater simplicity. Results are discussed from both theoretical and practical perspectives, especially with reference to the typical occupational information provided in routine vocational counseling.

Cognitive Correlates of Polychronicity

Polychronicity, defined as the ability to cope with stimulus-intense, information-overloaded environments, was operationalized as a 25-item scale assessing the reported degree to which individuals structure their physical and interpersonal environments within the context of time and space. The validity of the construct of polychronicity was assessed by predicting directional relationships to cognitive complexity and intelligence. The analyses support the hypotheses. Results are discussed regarding the ability of the construct to predict coping reactions to overloaded environmental transactions. A theoretical model of polychronicity is advanced.

Cognitive Complexity and Career Maturity among College Students.

Abstract The role of cognitive complexity in the career maturity of college students was investigated. Simple and multiple correlational analyses were performed upon data from 99 college students who were administered the Attitude Scale and Competence Test of the Career Maturity Inventory, the Bieri Repertory Test, and the Bodden Cognitive Differentiation Grid. Results generally supported the prediction that career maturity would be found to be positively associated with cognitive complexity.

Institutional and personal sources of manuscripts in the Journal of Vocational Behavior, 1971–1978

Abstract Both personal and institutional sources of authorship of manuscripts published in Vols. 1 through 13 of the Journal of Vocational Behavior (1971–1978) are traced in this article. The top 21 personal contributors to the journal, their present affiliations, and their institutions of graduate training are summarized. In addition data are presented on the sources of manuscripts from the top 27 institutional contributors. Unlike previous research in the Journal of Counseling Psychology , the most frequent institutional contributors are not located in the Midwest, although Midwestern universities were the predominant graduate schools of origin for the top 21 authors. It is also apparent that institutions, as well as authors, who constitute the major contributors to the Journal of Vocational Behavior are closely allied to what have been for some years the institutions of strongest identification with counseling and vocational psychology.

Two Computer Programs for Vocational Exploration and Assessment Employing Occupational Aspirations

This paper describes the development and initial testing of two programs designed to assist in the process of vocational choice. The basis for the programs is a considerable body of research evidence which substantiates that occupational aspirations (expressed choice) is as valid a predictor of a variety of outcome criteria as is any standardized interest inventory. The programs to be described start with the subjects expressed choices and employ a pair-comparison scaling technique to scale the relative desirability of each choice. In addition, work value ratings are imposed upon the scaled occupations as well as upon the subjects stated needs and the estimate of the capacity of an occupation to satisfy those work value needs. A subsidiary program for the student who is vocationally undecided, as well as vocationally uninformed, is also outlined. Initial evaluation of the programs against standardized interest inventories has yielded promising results.

A Program for Computing a-Priori and Post-Hoc Multivariate Contrasts

A computer program is described which computes any of three sets of multivariate contrasts following a significant outcome in an overall multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Input to the program comprises the required matrices, vectors, and scalars from the MANOVA output of major well known published programs. The program analyzes multivariate contrasts in (a) the a-priori, orthogonal case; (b) the a-priori, nonorthogonal case; and (c) the strictly post-hoc case. Roy-Bose multivariate simultaneous-contrast intervals are employed in the post-hoc case, whereas Bonferonni ts are used in the a-priori cases. The program, which is in FORTRAN IV, requires 7K of memory and uses less than one second of central processing time.