National Career Development Association (NCDA) is excited to release the re-imagined 7th edition of their influential guide to career assessment. Re-conceptualized and renamed to "A Comprehensive Guide to Career Assessment," the "Guide" contains important information career counselors, educators, and practitioners will find…

There is a lack of knowledge regarding the value and impact of career development services, particularly in Canada. The goals of this research were to better understand career development services' evaluation practices and the value of these practices from the perspectives of Canadian agencies, practitioners, policy makers, and employers. Data…

Career development practitioners understand that the value of career and employment services extends beyond attachment to the labor market. However, "soft" outcomes such as increased self-efficacy and improved ability to manage transitions are difficult to measure. Convincing funders and policy makers of the significance of such outcomes…

Highlights need for collaboration, integration, and expansion in designing evaluation models for career development programs. Outlines fledgling evaluation model that began to emerge at Symposium on Issues and Solutions for Evaluating Career Development Programs and Services. Notes that model addresses dimensions critical in evaluation of career…

Advocates evaluation of career development programs and services through multidimensional approach utilizing adaptations from methodologies found in evaluating cognitive instructional programs. Focuses on accessing various forms of knowledge necessary in career decision making through introspective, retrospective, and observational procedures.…

Survey of career and employment counseling showed that little counseling evaluation was being done in schools, colleges, universities, community agencies, or Canada Employment Centres. Absence of evaluative information places service at risk of being discontinued. Those in leadership positions have to be convinced of need for more and better…

Uses three hermeneutical or quasi-hermeneutical studies in career development to illustrate important dimensions of this type of research. Discusses collecting, recording, and analyzing research material and presenting the interpretative framework. Addresses issues of subjectivity, reliability, validity, accessibility, feasibility, and…

Examines research on career indecision through review of literature on variables consistently investigated as predictors of career indecision and tools incorporated to measure career indecision. Raises eight issues that would impact on evaluation efforts in area of career indecision. Encourages practitioners to test validity of mental models that…

Overview of five recently published evaluations of career development interventions designed specifically for women suggests that these programs need to be more systematically evaluated and reported. Given the limited extent to which existing substantive and methodological knowledge appear to be informing practice, two major strategies are…

Presents action-theoretical approach to evaluation of career development programs based on constructionist epistemology. Propositions from action-theoretical perspective center around career and action as related, interpretative constructs. Propositions give rise to implications for evaluation of career programs that address ongoing nature of…

Contends that, as career counseling shifts from educational to psychological focus, accountability issues become harder to address. Sees need for new model for career counseling evaluation, one that counselors consider relevant/practical, that can address formative and summative evaluation, and that is capable of embracing informal observations…

This manual is intended as a do it yourself tool for helping organizations develop an approach that will enhance the quality of career counseling services. It is aimed at demystifying evaluation planning and presents a framework so that the evaluation process leads to continuous improvement in meeting client expectations. It also helps validate…

Makes case for using performance assessments in career development interventions conducted in the classroom. Examples are drawn from "Pathways," a recently developed Canadian program for career development. Limitations of performance assessments are discussed, followed by recommendations for practice and research. (Author)

Career development in Canada has been gaining prominence over the past decade. This digest outlines the principles on which career development must remain focused. First, the meaning of "career success" needs to be reconceptualized. With companies downsizing, people need to be able to view themselves as successful, despite changing…

This document outlines some resources that may be helpful to school guidance counselors and other educators. Five resources are described for the elementary school years when children's natural curiosity and openness can be channelled into understanding themselves and others as well as learning about the meaning of work and the types of work…