NCJ Number
29300
Journal
VOCATIONAL GUIDANCE QUARTERLY Dated: (JUNE 1975) Pages: 358-362
Date Published
1975
Length
5 pages
Annotation
REPORT ON A STUDY DESIGNED TO TEST THE EXTENT TO WHICH VOCATIONAL MATURITY IS ACCELERATED WITH AN ADULT MALE POPULATION THROUGH A SIX-SESSION VOCATIONAL COUNSELING PROGRAM.
Abstract
THIS STUDY WAS PRECIPITATED BY EVIDENCE THAT SKILL TRAINING BY ITSELF DOES NOT INSURE JOB READINESS WITH A POPULATION THAT HAS HAD LITTLE PRIOR CONTACT WITH THE WORLD OF WORK. NINETY INMATES IN FOUR MASSACHUSETTS CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTIONS TOOK PART IN THE STUDY. THEY WERE DIVIDED INTO SIX UNITS OF FIFTEEN, AND IN EACH UNIT FIVE INMATES EACH WERE RANDOMLY ASSIGNED TO EXPERIMENTAL, CONTROL-ATTENTION-PLACEBO, AND CONTROL GROUPS. EXPERIMENTALS PARTICIPATED IN SIX CAREER PLANNING SESSIONS RANGING FROM ONE-HALF HOUR TO AN HOUR AND ONE HALF IN LENGTH. THE PLACEBO GROUP WAS EXPOSED TO ONLY A BRIEF EXPLANATION OF THE CAREER PLANNING EXPERIENCE. AT THE END OF THE SIX SESSIONS, ALL INMATES WERE GIVEN THE VOCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT INVENTORY. THE EXPERIMENTAL GROUP SHOWED A SIGNIFICANTLY HIGHER LEVEL OF VOCATIONAL MATURITY THAN DID THE TWO CONTROL GROUPS. THE AUTHORS CONCLUDE THAT A SHORT, INDIVIDUALIZTIONAL COUNSELING PROGRAM CAN SIGNIFICANTLY RAISE THE VOCATIONAL LEVEL OF AN INMATE POPULATION. A LIST OF REFERENCES IF INCLUDED.