Assessment of the value of group-based counselling for career construction

Abstract

This article reports on the change in the career adaptability of participants exposed to an intervention programme characterized by career and selfconstruction principles compared to the change in participants who participated in standard, traditional career counselling lessons. Convenience and purposive sampling were used to select two groups (experimental and comparison of Grade 11 learners). Intervention occurred in both experimental groups. A mixed methods, quasi-experimental, pre-test/posttest comparison group design was used to gather data. Pre-and post-test scores obtained on the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale (CAAS) were analysed. The quantitative results suggested that the intervention programme did not improve participants' career adaptability compared to standard, traditional career counselling lessons as measured by the CAAS. Future research should include the use of measures of self-reflection and meaning-making to test the direct effects of experimental interventions.

Group Career Construction Counseling: A Mixed‐Methods Intervention Study With High School Students

“…Different subgroups (four participants per subgroup, with one subgroup consisting of five members) were first constituted. Participants were given the opportunity to decide which subgroup they wanted to join (Maree, Cook, & Fletcher, 2018). On Day 1, the nature and aim of the assessment, the procedures to be followed, the assessment instruments, and so on were explained.…”

The need for contextually appropriate career counselling assessment: Using narrative approaches in career counselling assessment in African contexts

“…In these contexts, the traditional person-environment fit model (vocational guidance) still prevails. Researchers such as Albien (2018), Maree (2017aMaree ( , 2017bMaree ( , 2017c, Maree, Cook and Fletcher (2018) and Watson (2013) have demonstrated the value of contextualising and then applying selfconstruction and career construction and life-design counselling successfully for use in (South) African contexts and also applying this successfully in individual African contexts. Maree (2017b), in particular, has shown how life-design counselling could be adjusted for use in group-based African contexts.…”

Enhancing the sense of self of a mid-career woman through career construction counselling

“…Interventions premised on traditional career theories may not be sufficient to deal with constantly changing career environments or to address the needs of marginal workers (Maree, et al, 2018 ; Maree, 2016a , 2016b ). Qualitative methods are recommended as particularly useful and necessary (in addition to quantitative methods) to comprehend the career development processes of individuals who are considered previously disadvantaged (Maree, 2010 , 2017b , 2020 )—as in the case of women.…”