The author suggests that much of the current vocational evaluation technology does not fit within the definition of a work sample, and warns that if evaluators do not integrate their measurement tools with the discipline's philosophy, system publishers will gain control over vocational evaluation. (CL)

Incorporating simulated job samples into the junior high school curriculum can provide vocational exploration opportunities as well as assessment data on special needs students. Students can participate as active learners and decision makers. (CL)

The author deals with limitations on the use of work samples as predictors of vocational success of the disabled. The predictive model is briefly reviewed and ways in which the assumptions underlying this model can be violated or altered in vocational evaluation settings are described. (Author)

Included in the review are work samples; the Jewish Employment and Vocational Service Evaluation System; the Singer Evaluation System; the Testing, Orientation, and Work Evaluation in Rehabilitation System; and the Systematic Approach to Vocational Evaluation System. (Author)

The guidelines are intended to clarify assessment procedures used with handicapped students in Maine. Based on materials compiled by practitioners in that state, the manual focuses on prevocational and vocational assessments for students in grades 7-12. A three level prevocational (life skills) assessment is proposed, beginning with global…

Collaboration between special educators and vocational evaluators can begin with vocational assessment which consists of three major aspects: work sampling, psychometric testing, and critical observation of behaviors. Assessment results can result in improved academic programing, career exploration activities, or modified IEPs. (CL)

The paper describes a vocational program combining assessment and training of handicapped students through a centralized vocational assessment center, parent/student counseling, community survey of occupational opportunities, and curriculum modification and development. Three levels of assessment are conducted (prevocational skills, interests and…

A model public school vocational evaluation center for handicapped students is described. The model's battery of work samples and tests of vocational aptitudes, personal and social adjustment, physical capacities, and work habits are listed. In addition, observation of such work behaviors as remembering instructions, correcting errors, reacting to…

Comprehensive career assessment of handicapped students takes into account medical, psychoeducational, interest and aptitude information, work and job samples, and situational assessment. School-based career assessment programs are described in Texas, New York, Maryland, and Missouri. The author suggests that such programs will become vital parts…

This manual reviews the use of work samples in the vocational assessment of blind and visually impaired persons and suggests improvements in their use. The information in the manual was gathered through a literature review, a national survey of vocational evaluators in rehabilitation facilities and schools for the blind, and ideas developed by the…

The purpose of this document is to help vocational evaluators understand (1) how the concepts of learning and performance relate to vocational evaluation; (2) why learning assessment is important; and (3) how it may be incorporated into work sample testing. The text is divided into three parts. Part 1 defines the learning assessment process. Part…

The use of vocational evaluation recommendations for 71 disabled students in three public schools was studied. Predictive (placement-oriented) recommendations were implemented more frequently than prescriptive (preparation-oriented) recommendations, and prescriptive recommendations were rarely incorporated into individualized education programs.…

Using participant observation and in-depth interviewing, two vocational evaluation facilities, five professionals, and eight clients were studied. A variety of professional and organizational factors were found to be integral and contradictory parts of the assessment, affecting its character and outcome. (Author/SEW)

The Work Performance Assessment (WPA) is a brief work simulation designed to evaluate job maintenance skills, emphasizing work-related social/interpersonal skills rather than specific vocational skills. The WPA uses three work samples involving sorting of food service items to measure 19 common work demands in four categories: responding to…

The purpose of the study was to investigate the construct validity of the Jewish Employment and Vocational Service (JEVS) work samples. The specific objectives were: (1) to investigate the factor structure of the JEVS work samples; (2) to determine which work samples were good measures of general ability; and (3) to identify the work samples that…