Progress and Prospects in the Evaluation of Career Assistance

Abstract

Reviews of research on the evaluation of career assistance from 1970 to 2014 (N = 23) are examined for common conclusions and recommendations. Conclusions are tempered based upon the small numbers of studies included. Recommendations for strengthening research using integrated treatment chains and incorporating epidemiologically based statistics (i.e., risk ratio, odds ratio, and population attributable fraction) are described. A shift in prevailing research paradigm from an emphasis on the individual to an emphasis on the community would supplement evaluations based upon individual outcomes and make a more compelling case to policy makers and funders who could support future evaluative research and provision of career assistance.

An Introduction to Cognitive Information Processing Theory, Research, and Practice

“…Potential modifications to career interventions shown in the feedback loops in Figure 7 are based on response to intervention as it becomes clear that clients are having difficulties in learning or difficulties in completing agreed-upon tasks and need more, or a different type of, assistance. Spokane and Nguyen (2016) recommended using a response to intervention (RTI) model in career interventions in a manner similar to educational and school psychology. RTI involves the following sequence: (1) provide assistance that is generally effective, (2) monitor progress, (3) provide something more or something else for individuals having difficulty, and (4) continue monitoring and make intervention changes as needed (adapted from Fuchs, Mock, Morgan, & Young, 2003).…”

“…A resource used in individual case-managed interventions to address negative self-talk, as well as anxiety and depression, is the CTI Workbook (Sampson, Peterson, Lenz, Reardon, & Saunders, 1996b), a cognitive restructuring and decision-making instructional resource. The differentiated service delivery model incorporates the recommendations of Spokane and Nguyen (2016) for inclusion of client goals and use of tailored treatment strategies.…”

Attending to Clients' Psychological Needs During Career Construction Counseling

“…This would allow analysis of the contribution (or not) of our proposal to increasing career counseling effectiveness by means of a comparison between a group in which this practice is used and a control group in which this practice is not used. This type of study is core to deepening understanding of the mechanisms of change associated with positive outcomes in career counseling (Spokane & Nguyen, 2016). Process research could analyze career counseling components (e.g., working alliance) that may facilitate clients' elaboration on their needs.…”

Avaliação de processos de orientação profissional e de carreira: problemas e possibilidades

“…Entre elas, destacam-se as capacidades de fazer boas avaliações, contextualizando as problemáticas de escolha dos clientes; de planejar intervenções com base nas avaliações; e de avaliar os resultados das intervenções propostas (Lassance, Melo-Silva, Bardagi, & Paradiso, 2007). Nesse sentido, para além da avaliação, as decisões racionais acerca dos objetivos da intervenção e seu percurso devem ser feitas em conjunto com o cliente e, portanto, também ser consideradas na avaliação do processo (Spokane & Nguyen, 2015).…”