Presents overview of the primary components of Lent, Brown, and Hackett's social cognitive career theory and Weiner's attribution theory as they relate to career-related barriers. Discusses implications associated with each approach. Suggests that counselors need to help clients distinguish between barriers for which personal control and…

Providing information needed to make choices about different occupations in counseling and human services, this book enables examination of personal strengths and weaknesses within the fields. The opening chapters examine professional and personal issues to be considered in making career choices. Next are presented examples of counseling and human…

Compares the revised Career Key (CK) with the Self-Directed Search Career Explorer and the Job-O Enhanced inventories. Examines students' satisfaction and number of occupations suggested by the instruments. Results reveal that students' ratings of the CK were equal to those given by students taking the other two instruments and that the CK…

Evaluates a technology education program designed to provide mastery experiences described in self-efficacy theory and predicted to improve career decision-making of seventh- and eighth-grade students (N=169). Pre- and post-test instruments assessed technical/scientific self-efficacy and career interest. Although measures showed a greater valuing…

Previous research has shown that blacks tend to be concentrated in a narrow range of occupations. While social barriers are recognized as influencing this pattern, constricted patterns of career development also emerge in early exploratory stages prior to career choice. To investigate whether black students' level of vocational identity…

Career decision making is a process that continues throughout the life span. But the process can be impeded by lack of occupational exploration, vocational indecision, and lack of realism in vocational choice. Each obstacle is examined and intervention strategies to assist in decision making are proposed. (Author)

The model school-to-work system creates a foundation in the early grades and continues to build until students complete their studies. In the elementary grades, the major components of students' school-to-work education are career awareness and developing basic skills. Developing career awareness includes creating an environment where students see…

Summaries of research results concerning school-age children and youth are provided in four sections of this report. Each of the four substantive sections focuses on one of the following aspects of schooling: curriculum, classroom and school management, career preparation, and special needs and programs. The pages of the summary are organized in a…

Career Assessments are useful in helping people uncover their interests, values, personality, and skills. The problem with assessments occurs when counselors do not use the information to explore options for career decisions with students. This paper offers 10 alternatives to administering Career Assessments, which counselors can immediately…

Using data from a study of the work experience of 12 pre-16-year-old students, argues that work experience has expanded rapidly without proper debate about its purposes, potential or structure. As experience-based learning, it relies heavily upon debriefing to maximize its learning potential. Although difficult to accomplish, and surrounded by…

Describes Marshall University's summer camp where young people participate in activities that help prepare them for important career choices they will need to make when entering college. Benefits for the university include: recruitment, enhanced community partnerships, better informed incoming freshman, and publicity for the career center. (JBJ)

This report presents findings of a study to examine agricultural education at the secondary level and to make recommendations for program improvement. It focuses on the two major elements of agricultural education--agricultural literacy (education about agriculture) and vocational agriculture (education in agriculture). An executive summary sets…

Results of recent surveys of students, parents, and communities in west-central Minnesota indicate a great desire for vocational education and a perception of vocational education for a job as a basic skill. The rural student needs greater access to vocational programming in order to help break patterns of poverty and open the vision of students…

Research points to the increasing importance of career exploration as a component of effective guidance programs in the transition years. For such programs to be successful, however, they must be part of a guidance program which involves the total school staff and works in collaboration with the school board and community. (Author/LKS)

Preparation for the transition from school to work has often relied on rational approaches that include planning strategies and information provision. Proposes alternative programs with a developmental focus that address personal, social, and career development. (Author/LKS)