The research reported here was funded by the UK Department for Education and Skills to consider the influence of the school on the decision by young people to participate in learning on completion of compulsory schooling. A national sample of 24 schools across England participated in this study. Research methods included focus group interviews…

Responses from 21 of 100 large British organizations indicated that 7 did not use computers for career development. Among the others, interest is growing and marked by diversity of methods. Advantages were easy administration, information dissemination, and employee ownership. Cited disadvantages were access, confidentiality, and accuracy. (SK)

Seventy college students were randomly assigned to four groups: career planning course, course and SIGI PLUS computer-assisted guidance system, SIGI PLUS only, and control group. Analysis of covariance revealed few differences in decision making and career planning among the treatment groups, supporting the integration of computer-assisted…

Reports on a survey about employer expectations of students attending job fairs, including how students should conduct themselves and dress. More than one-third indicated they expect students to be knowledgeable about their company. According to respondents, lack of clear career objectives accounts for the most common mistake made by students.…

Evaluated revision of Vocational Decision Scale called Career Decision Profile (CDP) which was administered to 221 undergraduates. Found results supported reliability and validity of the Decidedness and Comfort scales and the four scales of the Reasons dimension. Found CDP showed promise for differentiating among groups of students for treatment.…

This study examined the comparative impact of two generations of a computer-assisted career guidance system, System of Interactive Guidance and Information (SIGI), and SIGI PLUS, on the career decidedness, vocational identity, and user perceptions of 64 college students. The students were randomly assigned to either SIGI or SIGI PLUS. The…

Responses from a national survey of 374 (of 500) 4-year institutions showed that 69 percent of private colleges do not have computer-assisted guidance systems, whereas 69 percent of public colleges do. Significantly more large than small institutions use such systems. SIGI PLUS and DISCOVER are the 2 most popular. (SK)

From a sample of 425 employees, 48 percent used the computer-based Employee Development Planning System over 6 months. A follow-up survey found that (1) system users were significantly more involved in career planning activities; (2) usefulness of the program enabled employees to match themselves with career opportunities; and (3) age/career stage…

Survey of graduates from University of California-San Diego, polled by career services center on how they found jobs, determined that many attributed their job-finding success to the career services center. Findings conclude that technology can bolster rather than reduce the role of career services practitioners in serving students and employers.…

Computer assisted career guidance (CACG) systems have been around for at least the past 20 years in career guidance centers. There are two types of systems: information retrieval and guidance interaction. This study investigated the effectiveness of DISCOVER in facilitating career decisions among college students. DISCOVER is a systematic career…

DISCOVER is a computer-based career decision-making system used in many libraries. In the stand-alone model, DISCOVER is used as a reference resource. In the librarian-facilitated model, the librarian provides counseling support as well as information. (SK)

Injured workers are individuals whose injuries have resulted in residual impairment, making it impossible for them to return to their former jobs or to seek work in an allied field. This study investigated the differential effects of computer assisted career guidance (CACG) systems combined with a cognitive information processing strategy on…

Nine computer-assisted career guidance systems are assessed: the Career Information System; CHOICES; CHOICES for Adults; CHOICES Jr.; DISCOVER for Colleges and Adults, for High Schools, and for Junior High and Middle Schools; the Guidance Information System; and SIGI PLUS. Four detailed tables compare features in terms of career decision-making…

Sixty-three undergraduates who used both the System of Interactive Guidance and Information and SIGI PLUS rated them comparably in terms of the dimensions of analysis, synthesis of options, and general helpfulness. Ratings were not influenced by career choice, vocational education, information needs, or year in school. Thirty-nine preferred SIGI…

Investigated the link between social networks and the ability to find a job through a personal contact among adult inner-city residents using data for 2,490 inner-city adults. Ethnic differences were found in the rate of finding jobs by word of mouth and in the way social networks connect job seekers. (SLD)