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Social identities impact the way individuals see themselves and their career options but career theories have been slow to the call in exploring how social identities interface with theoretical assumptions. The purpose of this study was to examine how social identities affect and inform specific dimensions identified by cognitive information processing (CIP) theory as being essential for effective career decision-making, that is, self-knowledge, options knowledge, decision-making process and skills, career beliefs, and overall career decision. Seventy-six students across ten sections of an undergraduate CIP-based career development course answered questions on an anonymous survey related to how their social identities impacted aspects of their career decision-making. Frequencies for social identities were calculated for each CIP dimension, and 11 categories identified for open-ended responses using the consensual qualitative research-modified approach accompanied pre-determined domains based on CIP theory. Across each component, the most common SI was age and generational differences. While students expressed the influence of social identities as occurring in each CIP dimension, statements related to the self-concept category occurred most often and were present in each domain. Our findings support previous work that the presence and impact of SIs on career decision-making components is undeniable, but also not universal. CIP theory provides a structure and avenues for discussing the role of social identities in career decision-making.

Careerography, which is the intensive examination of the work experiences and career life course of an individual of historical or present significance through a vocational theoretical lens, has several important applications for psychologists. The present article provides a brief overview of careerography in the context of the more established field of psychobiography. The utility of careerography for career counseling practice, research, and training is outlined, and specific examples of how careerography can be integrated into graduate-level curricula, research; and clinical experiences are then highlighted. Finally, careerography is introduced as a promising career education tool that increases underrepresented and marginalized youths' access to diverse career role models.

Students underrepresented in higher education often require unique support throughout their career and college planning. Rural Appalachian youth characterize a large population of underrepresented students. This article describes a theory-based multiweek career education curriculum aimed at increasing career and college readiness that was delivered to over 1,300 high school students in two rural Appalachian counties. Evaluation data from 867 of these students, as well as from the program staff, are provided. Findings suggest that participants found the intervention useful, learned new information about postsecondary planning and career exploration, and received assistance planning for their futures. Implications for school-based career education with underrepresented students, in general, are discussed.

There are limited empirical studies examining career-related activities for Black and Latino/a students during the middle school years. Using a constant comparison method, this study examined the narrative data of 63 Black and Latino/a middle school students regarding their perceptions of work and life success. The results of this analysis revealed five overarching themes: exposure, support, attainment, family, and effort/persistence. Implications for career and school professionals, as well as the significance of school-family-community partnerships, are discussed.

New models of career education are needed to prepare young people for changes and challenges in the world of work. We propose that the psychology of working framework/theory (PWF/PWT) has the potential to shape career education in transformative ways that are attentive to shifting dimensions of the local context and the marginalization of large segments of the world population in seeking access to decent work. In this article, we present theory and research supporting the PWF/PWT and its application for career development intervention, with specific attention to the constructs of youth purpose and critical consciousness as important resources for coping with massive changes in the world of work and growing inequality. We provide examples of how this might be done, drawing from our current research-practice partnerships that are designing, delivering, and evaluating PWF-/PWT-informed career intervention.

Contextual factors have received increased attention in understanding the challenges and difficulties in translating career education and career guidance services from Western societies to non-Western societies, many of which are undertaking a shift from a socialist and collectivistic system to a more individualistic one. In this article, using China as an example, we discussed the contextual factors in different ecological systems, such as economical, educational, and sociocultural, and how they may facilitate or impede youth career education in a transitioning society. We reviewed a career education program in a Chinese senior middle school to illustrate such impacts. Additionally, we proposed strategies for further development of youth career education in China as well as in other countries with similar transitions. We introduced a framework of a diversified concept of career and several context-resonant career development theories to be considered in guiding youth career education programs in these transitioning societies.

This article describes a model for developing culturally sensitive career education programs, framed from an ecological contextual understanding. This framework allows career practitioners to build on cultural strengths and values to meet the career education needs of diverse communities. To illustrate the application of this model, we describe the cultural context of rural Appalachia and offer theoretically framed ideas of how to meet the population's career education needs.

Young women with disabilities often experience limited career options and opportunities. This study provides an overview and preliminary results from the "Paths 2 the Future" (P2F) curriculum designed to meet the unique career development needs of young women with disabilities. P2F includes 75 lessons covering topics of self-awareness, disability knowledge, gender identity, and career and college readiness. Survey data were collected from young women with learning, health, intellectual, and emotional disabilities who participated in the curriculum in four high schools (N = 49). Paired sample t tests documented significant improvements from pretest to posttest scores for disability and gender awareness, vocational skills self-efficacy, self-realization, and an overall career development construct. Focus groups were conducted to gather feedback on participant experiences. Young women in the focus groups noted the unique benefits of a "girls only" class and described increases in self-awareness and personal empowerment.

A teacher-training program was introduced in Southern Alberta, Canada, to enable intern teachers to integrate career education projects into their mainstream elementary school courses. This non-experimental, descriptive evaluation used content analysis to examine the effectiveness of 25 career education projects and their corresponding 56 types of career education interventions that were implemented by intern teachers. Twenty-five project reports and 555 student evaluation surveys were examined to determine trends in project strengths, challenges, and recommendations for career education. Students benefited from engaging in a variety of developmentally appropriate learning experiences that allowed them to engage in self-exploration and identify potential careers of interest. Implications for future research and practice are provided.

Career development at the elementary level is an important developmental function to ensure all students graduate college and career ready. However, the training and continuing education needs of elementary school counselors have been largely ignored in the professional literature and in training programs. This article explores the theoretical and empirical support for career development at the primary level and the challenges in training elementary school counselors. Recommendations for modifications to school counselor educator programs are offered, and future research and continuing education needs for school counselors are explored.

Drawing from career construction and positive youth development perspectives, this study explores, among 254 Italian high school students, the relationship between emotional intelligence (EI) and support from friends and teachers with indices of adaptive career development. Results from the full canonical correlational model revealed that dimensions of EI and teacher support were positively associated with resilience and self-perceived employability. These results suggest that EI and teacher support warrant further investigation as factors that may contribute to adaptive career progress among youth.

Goal instability and its relation to career thoughts, decision state, and performance in an undergraduate career course in a large university were investigated in this study. Participants completed six instruments measuring the nature of goals, career thinking, occupational decision making, satisfaction with career choice, tension associated with career decisions, and a performance contract of course activities to be completed for a grade. Bivariate correlations and multiple regression analyses indicated that the degree of goal instability was directly related to negative career thoughts, dissatisfaction with career choice, career tension, and inversely related to classroom performance. Results of the analyses suggested that goal instability may serve as an initial global screening measure of readiness for career exploration in a classroom environment. The use of supplementary readiness measures is discussed.

Individualized learning plans (ILPs) are being implemented in high schools throughout the United States as strategic planning tools that help students align course plans with career aspirations and often include the development of postsecondary plans. Initial indications are that ILPs may be an important method for helping students achieve both college and career readiness. Parents, teachers, and students indicate that ILPs result in students selecting more rigorous courses, better teacher-student relationships, and positive parent-school relations. This article describes the emergence and nature of ILPs, promising practice strategies as well as challenges associated with gaining whole school buy-in, and the potential for career and vocational research.

In this article, the lens of critical psychology is applied to adolescent career development and vocational guidance in Chile. The authors describe and critique the status of adolescent vocational guidance in Chile, the reproduction of extant social inequities in Chilean education, and offer recommendations for enhancing vocational guidance practice, training, and research. The authors' recommendations may be applicable to other contexts in which social disparities limit the vocational potential of significant groups in society.

From a critical psychology perspective, Prilleltensky and Nelson advocate for research that has explicit focus on social change and can allow for full participation and empowerment of those under study. The current article describes the collaborative development, implementation, and evaluation of a career education program within three ethnically and economically diverse rural high schools. Using case study methodology, the authors examined the effects of the "A Future in Iowa Career Education" (FICE) program using three different sources of data (pre-post test results, student evaluations, and focus groups). Context-specific results indicated the program was associated with increases in self-efficacy and career aspirations and had practical strengths and weaknesses. Results are discussed in terms of current literature and practical implications are provided. (Contains 7 tables.)

This mixed-method study examined a neglected area in career education: parents' attitudes toward the relevance of early career development, parents' attitudes toward the implementation of career education in preschools (including preferred subjects to be included in curricula), and the contribution of gender, socioeconomic status (SES), and education to these attitudes. Fifteen parents were interviewed, and an additional 140 parents (47 men, 93 women; ages 24-55 years) with at least one preschooler (4-6 years old) completed two attitude questionnaires developed for the current study. Results indicated moderate positive agreement with the developmental approach and with preschool implementation of career education. Parents agreed that the curriculum in the preschool system should include some career education, but they wanted it introduced slowly, step-by-step. Almost all of them talked about the need to protect children from the complexity of work. Education and high SES correlated with positive attitudes. The study discusses practical implications for career education programs. (Contains 4 tables.)

This interpretive study examined the lived experiences of young college-educated Taiwanese women employed as clerical workers. Using hermeneutic phenomenology as the research methodology, the study explored the meanings of the participants' lived experiences. Systematic text analysis of the data revealed various experiences and expectations. Experience themes identified in the study were: (a) "bored and busy"; and (b) "disrespected and mistrusted." Major expectation themes revealed are: (a) "career dreams and aspirations;" and (b) "desire for meaningful work". The study emphasised the importance of career development education in young Taiwanese women. The experiences of Taiwanese female clerical workers as recorded in the study reflected a need for career development, which might provide insightful information for career development scholars and practitioners.

College freshmen in Taiwan completed the Career Decision Scale before and after two different career education courses: cognitive restructuring (n=24) and decision-making skills training (n=44). Compared to 96 controls, indecision decreased for both treatment groups. Type of course did not affect indecision. (Contains 25 references.) (SK)

Taiwanese college students (n=258) in career-education courses focused on interpersonal relationships or career planning were compared to 237 controls. Career education did not make significant changes in career beliefs but did affect career certainty and indecision. (SK)

From a group of 107 Australian sixth graders, a treatment group completed 10 weeks of career education activities. They had better understanding of occupational information sources, more interest in career information, and better perception of the relationship of school to potential jobs than did the control group. Many had gender stereotypical attitudes. (SK)

Responses from 49 states and the District of Columbia determined that (1) 40 have some prevocational education and 29 have state-sponsored programs; (2) 5 require it of all students; (3) 17 have 50 percent or more of seventh and eighth graders enrolled; and (4) primary influences were the Vocational Education Amendments of 1968 and the 1970s career education movement. (SK)

A sample of 68 teachers and 8 administrators of special education identified primary barriers to career education implementation: (1) parents' view of children's education as the schools' responsibility; (2) some teachers' reluctance to change and adopt new materials; and (3) lack of job coaches and job development personnel to coordinate student placement. (SK)

Schools can develop worker traits, behaviors, values, and attitudes in students by taking the view that school is a workplace and learners are workers. This concept involves analysis of classroom work functions and tasks, worker characteristics, physical demands, environmental conditions, and interest in, involvement in, and performance of work tasks. (SK)

The Contextual Career Education model stresses participant decision making, responsibility, and acquisition of work-related skills for urban youth in a real-life context. George Washington University's program provides work experience, career education classes, and a computer lab, which allows career exploration and computer skills training. (SK)

Career education for trainable and educable mentally handicapped adolescents begins with assessment of medical and psychomotor problems, social maturity, intellectual capacity, academic achievement, manual dexterity, personality, interests, and employment potential. Assessment should be integrated with appropriate career counseling and training. (SK)

A study was conducted to determine the effectiveness of a federally funded series of career education workshops for school-based teams of principals, counselors, and teachers. In this study, the authors hypothesize that both school effectiveness and effective implementation of innovations such as career education within the school have some common determinants. (CT)

Describes a study conducted to determine how career education was described in the literature during the selected years of 1972, 1977, and 1982 and to identify possible trends. Specifically, the study sought to determine the quantity of articles published and doctoral dissertations written on career education for the selected years. (CT)

Describes a 15-hour inservice program for classroom teachers based on the "school is work" approach to career education. Program objectives are listed, progression of the learning experience is defined, and significant operational concerns are examined. (CT)

Describes a study that analyzed the actual performance of school psychologists in career development functions, the future importance school psychologists attach to career development functions, and the educational preparation of school psychologists with respect to career development functions. (CT)

Describes a course designed to train administrators in how to develop, implement, and administer career education programs in the school setting. The course structure and theoretical content are examined. The article also discusses product outcomes, exposure to the private employment sector, resource sharing, and evaluation by students. (CT)

Describes a school district's introductory inservice program with a three-stage career education program model: awareness, exploration, and preparation. The article is aimed at practitioners--school administrators, curriculum coordinators, guidance counselors, and teachers--wanting to implement an inservice program for the purpose of creating district-wide awareness and knowledge of career education. (CT)

Provides a historical background for the current educational dilemma up to the emergence of the career education movement in the 1970s. Offers postulative evaluation as a means of avoiding educational shortcomings being blamed unfairly upon career education. (JB)

The current outcry for educational reform raises issues that have already long concerned career education. This situation gives career educators the opportunity to provide leadership in attaining common educational goals. (JB)

This essay describes Cashmere Middle School (Washington) as a positive and successful education model. The school's goals are set at an annual community meeting. Innovative school programs are outlined in the essay, and positive results in the form of academic goals, improved behavior, and student expectations are noted. (JB)

Itemizes necessary components for true collaboration and provides a detailed general action plan for establishing and administering partnerships. (JB)

This article projects costs for 12 proposed educational reforms, and advises that career education join forces with both the process- and structure-oriented reform efforts if meaningful changes are to be made. (JB)

This article reviews the social context of the life/career development needs of children and youth at the K-12 level, reviews prior work in leisure and career education in the public schools, compares and contrasts the scope and impact of these two efforts, and offers some suggestions for future work in this area. (CT)

Considers the college career counseling program's role in providing services to the gifted and talented. Briefly discusses the current status of career education in the public schools and the implications this holds for counseling of this special population. (CH)

Argues that teachers must be involved in providing career guidance to students. Presents results from a survey of 248 high school teachers measuring six basic domains--self-confidence, knowledge, perceived skill in advising students, attitude about career education, extent of advisement currrently given to students, and attitude toward the teacher awareness program. (CH)

This article shares some of the strategies and activities that the author believes will improve the connections between independent career education and the world of work. These activities concern school business cooperation, student motivation, student involvement, staff involvement, community and government relations, and career planning and placement. (CT)

Discusses various aspects of the independent school: course offerings, hours per week in class (intensive study), hands-on training, open entry-open exit format, individualized attention, teacher qualifications, teacher student relationship, most popular courses, student placement in appropriate classes, accreditation, job placement, job preparation, externship programs, and financial aid. (CT)

Describes the evolution of the Maine career information delivery system and the cooperation between state agencies to deliver high quality and timely career information. (JOW)

Consists of an annotated bibliography of selected recent publications in the area of career education. Includes some discussion on accessing the materials. (CH)

Presents the background and the program of the international career education conference "Careers: Building the Workforce" (also called "Miami BICE") held March 25-29, 1986, in Miami, Florida. (CH)

Advocates the voluntary professional association as a viable instrument for progress and maintenance in contemporary society. Provides information about some current career education associations and career education-related associations. (CH)

Lists the expectations that employers have for entry-level workers, as well as the skills needed to be promotable in the next century. Compares employers' expectations with a profile of student skills. Gives implications for school counselors. (CH)

Describes three major efforts that are moving career education forward for exceptional persons: (1) activities of the Division on Career Development, Council for Exceptional Children; (2) the school-to-work transition movement; and (3) development of the Life-Centered Career Education Curriculum at the University of Missouri-Columbia. (CH)