Previous tests of Holland's theory of vocational choice among members of professional occupations have demonstrated that it is predictive, useful, and formally acceptable. In a test among members of four nonprofessional occupations, however, it was not as predictive as previously demonstrated for professional and technical occupations. (Author)

This replicated comparison of interviewer behavior and efficacy of complete novices and experienced professionals shows no significant differences between the two groups on genuineness and warmth, with one questionable difference in favor of the professionals on empathy. The implications of these findings for interviewer status are considered.…

Despite its significance, the field of informal peer counseling remains relatively unexplored. This study focused on the therapeutic responses that laymen give to and desire from their peers. In two separate studies, S's indicated their reactions to scripts presented in booklets or on tapes. S's were instructed to respond to these scripts as if…

Certain aspects of Holland's theory were studied to assess their applicability to nonprofessional workers. Results indicate that nonprofessional workers (1) tend to be congruent with their work environments and (2) tend to perceive groups of adjectives as self-descriptive which were consistent with their personal orientations. (Author)

Study of a partial hierarchy of needs to work of paraprofessionals in education and social service yielded findings which differ from what might be expected of disadvantaged adults. (Author)

Small and large school counseling center directors generally agree on which functions are appropriate for paraprofessionals. There have been minor changes in their attitudes during the past three years. There have also been greater changes in the sources from which paraprofessionals are drawn--more volunteer and less paid personnel. (Authro)

Discusses the research model used to train junior high school students in helping relations using the Carkhuff model. Both the research data and resulting behaviors lend support to the concept that effective training of peers can have positive and far-reaching impact on both peer counselor trainees and those to whom they related. (Author/PC)

Systematic Human Relations Training (SHRT) is predicated on the basic assumption that there are certain core helper-offered conditions that are necessary in a helping relationship, i.e., empathy, respect, warmth, concreteness, genuineness, self-disclosure confrontation, and immediacy. This, however, is only part of the model. The second basic…

This document has four major objectives: (1) to synthesize and summarize the relevant literature on the employment of paraprofessionals; (2) to present the insights and impressions gained from experiences in a limited field investigation; (3) to relate both the literature and the field investigation to a conceptual framework; and (4) to discuss…

References selected from Exceptional Child Education Abstracts and pertaining to teacher aides and nonprofessional personnel (in schools, institutions, or elsewhere), particularly as related to handicapped children, are listed in the annotated bibliography, which is one in a series of over 50 similar listings concerning exceptional children. For…

Ten weeks of assertion training was provided to eight mental hospital paraprofessionals. These trained subjects served as either counselor or counselee in a microcounseling session with eight paraprofessionals who were untrained in assertion training. Assertion-trained counselors were superior to untrained counselors on a set of…

This project was a three-year study to demonstrate an effective way of providing rehabilitation services to deprived and disabled people living in the Model Cities area of Baltimore. Results of analysis of the data lent support to the perceived roles of the rehabilitation aides in terms of their effectiveness in the rehabilitation process.…

This paper describes the current status of a helping skills program designed to train mental health paraprofessionals in relationship-building skills. Six skills were identified as the basis of the training program: (1) understanding the need to be a helper; (2) using effective nonverbal behavior; (3) using effective verbal behavior; (4) using…

Clients (N=408) reported receiving the most help on medical and vocational problems from doctors and rehabilitation counselors respectively, and the most help with personal, social, and family problems from family and friends. These results and the potential use of nonprofessionals or lay persons in the rehabilitation process are discussed.…