Background: This study applied the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) in an attempt to predict longitudinal growth of career exploratory behaviour in school pupils. The importance of information for making considered career decisions is indicated in theories of career development and choice, career education programmes, and concepts of career…

Discusses the relationship between vocational maturity and a set of developmental and/or psychological characteristics--moral development and social interest among adolescents. The conclusions and counselling implications suggest that vocational maturity is significantly correlated with social interest and moral development. (Author/BL)

Investigates the level of career maturity of adjudicated and nonadjudicated high school students with and without disabilities. No significant differences existed between nonadjudicated and adjudicated students without disabilities. Adjudicated students with emotional and learning disabilities scored significantly lower than nonadjudicated…

Black (n=113) and Asian American (n=68) students completed racial/ethnic identity, career development, and salience instruments. Among blacks, there was a significant relationship between racial identity attitudes and life role salience domains. For Asian Americans, cultural identity attitudes were significantly related to career maturity domains.…

Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses of data from the Life Orientation Test Revised for 504 adolescents demonstrated its bidimensionality. High optimism was associated with high levels of career planning, exploration, decision-making confidence, and career-related goals. High pessimism was associated with career indecision, low…

Explored the effectiveness of a counseling intervention for disadvantaged adults (N=20). Results indicated that the Adkins Life Skills Program increased clients' vocational maturity, and they became more involved in their own career development. Reading ability influenced scores. (JAC)

Describes a series of psychometric analyses of the Career Development Inventory (CDI), using latent trait measurement models, with a sample of 680 Australian high school students. Results suggest that, although some modifications are needed, the CDI has generally desirable psychometric properties. (JAC)

Investigated the construct validity of Crites' model of career maturity and the Career Maturity Inventory (CMI). Results from a nationwide sample of adolescents, using hierarchical factor analytic methodology, indicated confirmatory support for the multidimensionality of Crites' model of career maturity, and the construct validity of the CMI as a…

Undergraduates in group career counseling wrote essays exploring resource awareness, resource use, life roles, values, self-awareness, and empowerment and held discussions of career maturity and identity. They formulated action plans to work on the strengths and weaknesses identified. (SK)

Explored women's experiences of group process in career planning interventions and relationship of those experiences to vocational maturity. Results from 99 career-undecided women revealed that female clients, similar to other counseling clients, highly valued both cognitive and affective components of group process in career counseling groups.…

The study compared the career maturity levels of a sample of basic education students to the norms. Following a 10-week career development course, the gains of a treatment group were compared to those of a control group. No gains were found in the control group; however, the treatment group moved from the lowest to the highest norm quartile.…

Investigated the role of cognitive complexity in the career maturity of college students. Results generally supported the prediction that career maturity would be positively associated with cognitive complexity. (Author)

Comparison of 167 Anglo-American and 122 Mexican-American ninth graders showed that the former had much greater knowledge of career decision making and greater career awareness and occupational knowledge. Mexican Americans scored higher on Sensing and Thinking and lower on Perceiving scales of the Myers Briggs Type Indicator. (SK)

Effects of career interventions on vocational construct differentiation and integration were tested with 121 undergraduates in 4 groups: Vocational Card Sort (n=31), Self-Directed Search (n=28), System of Interactive Guidance and Information Plus (n=31), and controls (n=31). All three interventions had a substantial impact on vocational cognitive…

Australian high school students (n=377) completed the Career Development Inventory and a work commitment measure. Commitment was moderately correlated with career development. Commitment and the knowledge component of career maturity were strongly related for females. Females had higher work commitment scores than males. (Contains 39 references.)…