Studies the application of the monotonic criterion, i.e., career development proceeds in a continuous pattern. Systematic increases in scores on the Career Development Inventory are shown by high school students, but not by college students. Findings and related theory support discontinuity of career development process after high school. (DOW)

The degree of convergent validity among four methods of identifying vocational preferences is assessed via the decision theoretic paradigm. Vocational preferences identified by Holland's Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI), a rating procedure, and ranking were compared with preferences identified from a policy-capturing model developed from an…

Theorizes that there are two primary dimensions or continua along which delays or dysfunctions may occur in career decision making: the decided/undecided state and the decisiveness/indecisiveness trait. Suggest that the combination of the two dimensions yields four distinct diagnostic categories which demonstrate the need for differential…

Compared interpersonal characteristics and vocational certainty in 268 male and 57 female college freshmen choosing technical majors. Both males and females were found to be controlling and assertive, although women showed more traditional feminine traits as well. Women were less sure of their career choice. (JAC)

Describes development of a screening test to identify individuals with the best potential for being helped by a computer assisted guidance program. The Career Decision Making Questionnaire was administered to 142 students. Results indicated the importance of prior experience with career information. (JAC)

Tested eight hypotheses concerning relationships between socioeconomic status, sex, work importance, and career maturity with high school students (N=382). Results indicated that work salience (but not socioeconomic status--and sex only slightly) is directly related to career maturity. (LLL)

Investigated the development of general attitudes toward work in career transitions of Israeli junior and senior high school students, university students, and vocational and executive trainees. The results confirmed the role of expectations in attitude formation. Similar expectations as to status and advancement led to similar attitudes. (JAC)

Compared the effectiveness of a computer assisted guidance program (DISCOVER), a small group guidance intervention (Vocational Exploration Group), and a combined approach on career maturity and decidedness in 120 high school students. All three interventions were significantly helpful to students. (JAC)

This study sought to analyze the relationship between scores obtained from the Career Maturity Inventory (CMI) and the Occupational Plans Questionnaire (OPQ). The sample consisted of 169 eleventh-grade students. Only limited correlation was found between students' career maturity and occupational plans scores. (Author)

The purpose of this study was to determine whether ninth-grade pupils making appropriate vocational choices attained higher scores on measures of vocational maturity than pupils making inappropriate vocational choices. Analyses of the results showed that the group making appropriate vocational choices attained significantly higher scores than the…

This paper reports two companion studies which establish that there is a significant relationship between an individual's personality characteristics and his pattern of job-seeking behavior. Individuals who are tough-minded, independent and nonneurotic had specified job goals and self-actualized behavior. Individuals who were sensitive, dependent…

A taxonomy of: (1) knowledges, (2) attitudes, (3) activities, and (4) status characteristics and research efforts to develop and validate objective measures of vocational maturity variables are suggested. (MU)

Discusses family influences on vocational development and maturity, and on perceptions of the vocational counseling client. Briefly describes family systems theory and applies it to the career counseling process. (WAS)

Explored the use of Crites' Career Maturity Inventory (CMI) with rehabilitation clients in evaluation versus training groups. Results indicate the CMI may be useful in tapping variables important in the progress of rehabilita- tion clients. Suggests group placement, content, and reading level must be considered and further research is needed. (JAC)

Results indicated that decision-making style contributed to vocational maturity and certainty of vocational choice. Both interventions resulted in increases on both dependent measures. Rational decision makers did best with rational interventions, whereas intuitive decision makers did best with intuitive interventions. (Author)