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The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of school psychologists and transition coordinators toward current involvement and importance of involvement of school psychologists in transition planning. An adaptation of a survey designed by Staab (1996) was used to assess the attitudes of school psychologists (N = 125) and transition coordinators (N = 66) in Pennsylvania and included transition-related tasks within the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) categories of Consultation, Assessment, Direct Services, and Program Planning/Evaluation (NASP, 1992). Results indicate that school psychologists and transition coordinators report similar ratings of involvement and importance. Most significantly, both school psychologists and transition coordinators reported greater ratings for importance than for involvement indicating that both groups believe that school psychologists should be more involved in transition planning than they are currently. Implications of these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed. (Contains 3 tables.)

This article presents the basic tenets of Holland's (1997) theory of vocational personalities and work environments and discusses its use by employment counselors in service occupations. The authors describe Holland's 6 personality types and research on the theory, as well as formal and informal assessment and counseling strategies within the context of the theory's use and resources for employment counselors. Growth trends within service occupations and the fastest growing occupational groups within the service sector are identified. A case study of a 20-year-old college student that combines Holland's theory with labor market trends in service occupations is presented. (Contains 1 table, 5 online resources and 7 resources.)

This study investigated the validity of J. L. Holland's (1997) theory of vocational personalities and work environments. The sample consisted of 241 randomly selected members of the National Association of School Psychologists, each of whom completed a demographic data form, the Self-Directed Search-Revised (SDS-R; J. L. Holland, 1994) and a modified short form of the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (D. J. Weiss, R. V. Dawis, G. W. England, & L. H. Lofquist, 1967). Only limited support was found for major constructs associated with Holland's theory, although the study found several significant relationships between 3-letter SDS-R codes and desired role function as would be predicted by Holland's theory.

Emotional and behavioral difficulties often interfere with children's acquisition of academic, career, and social skills. Counselors assume an important role in the mandated multidisciplinary evaluation of children with emotional disturbance (ED), but the field lacks a standard battery of assessment procedures for working with children who have ED. The authors review the current issues related to students with ED, describe instruments and procedures used to assess ED, and discuss the counselor's role in the assessment process.

This study represents the first empirical test of the vocational personality of US school psychologists. Specifically, we investigated the personality of school psychologists using Holland's (1997) well-researched theory of vocational personalities and work environments. The sample consisted of 241 randomly selected members of the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP). The Self-Directed Search (Holland, 1994) was used to identify personality types. Results offered general support for the three-letter vocational personality code for school psychologists that is listed in the "Dictionary of Holland Occupational Codes" (Gottfredson and Holland, 1996). (Contains 2 tables.)

Meta-analytic techniques were used to analyze data from a collection of school psychologist job satisfaction studies that were conducted between 1982 and 1999. Eight studies, all of which used the Modified Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (m-MSQ) to measure job satisfaction among school psychologists, were included in the analysis. Two national studies and six state studies totaling 2,116 participants were analyzed. Results indicated that nearly 85% of school psychologists were satisfied or very satisfied with their jobs. School psychologists were most satisfied with their relationships with coworkers, the opportunity to stay busy on the job, the opportunity to work independently, and the opportunity to be of service to others. School psychologists were least satisfied with compensation, school policies and practices, and advancement. Findings were generally consistent between state and national studies, and between 1980s and 1990s studies. Results offered some evidence that overall job satisfaction may be related to state school psychology organization membership and to the opportunity to expand and influence the role of the school psychologist.

Using the Career Key as a criterion measure, he validity of the Strong Interest Explorer was tested with a sample of Latino junior high school and senior high school students. A total of 85 Hispanic youth were administered the Strong Interest Explorer and the Career Key in counterbalanced order. Separate correlational analyses were conducted for (a) the total sample, (b) junior high/senior high students, and (c) males/females. Results generally offered support for the validity of the Strong Interest Explorer Artistic, Social and Enterprising scales but not the Investigative, Conventional or Realistic scales. Cautions regarding use of the Strong Interest Explorer with Latino youth are discussed.

Childhood bullying has become recognized as a significant, pervasive form of school violence. Because of its deleterious effect on both victims' and bullies' current and future functioning, it is imperative that school personnel such as counselors engage in assessment techniques as the 1st step in a coordinated, systemic antibullying effort. The authors discuss multiple methods and instruments to use in assessing bullying in schools and provide guidelines for counselors in choosing the appropriate measurement for their needs.

Assesses the reliability and validity of the Web-based version of the Career Key. Participants completed the Web-based version of the Career Key and the Self-Directed Search-Form R and completed a second Career Key administration 2 weeks later. Test-retest reliability ranged between .75 and .84. With the exception of the conventional scale, all concurrent validity coefficients were at or above .65. (Contains 25 references and 3 tables.) (GCP)

Investigated the relationships between gender, disability, and career maturity. A multivariate analysis of variance (N=180) yielded a significant main effect for gender, no significant effect for disability, and no significant interaction effect. Females demonstrated higher levels of overall career maturity and career knowledge, including decision making and the work world. (Author/EMK)

Discusses the construct of career maturity, and reviews research that identifies factors associated with it. Describes six measurement instruments and reviews their uses and psychometric properties. Summarizes information about these measures in two tables. Discusses issues associated with the assessment of career maturity. (Author/EMK)

Surveyed 512 elementary and secondary administrators regarding their perceptions of the time spent by school psychologists in 15 role functions and other duties. Results indicate that administrators desired school psychologists to spend less time in assessment and administrative activities than they were perceived to be spending in these areas. Other findings are discussed. (RJM)

Used modified Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire and demographic data form to identify predictors of satisfaction with school system policies and practices and with advancement opportunities among 362 school psychologists. Identified six predictors of satisfaction with school system policies/practices which accounted for 22 percent of variance; five predictors of satisfaction with advancement opportunities which accounted for 17 percent of variance. (Author/NB)

Used Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire and demographic data form to investigate relationship between job satisfaction and actual/desired role functioning and perceived control over role functioning among school psychologists. Results indicated that school psychologists spent more time in assessment activities than they desired and less time in consultation, counseling, and research than desired. (Author/NB)

Discusses general issues and concerns relative to the adaptation of paper-pencil assessment instruments to computerized formats. Describes and evaluates Self-Directed Search computerized version (SDS-CV). Presents strengths and weaknesses of the SDS-CV and makes recommendations for its use. (Author/ABL)

Offers justification for school psychologist's involvement in vocational assessment process and suggests use of the vocational instrument Self-Directed Search (SDS). Argues use of SDS can provide school psychologists with psychometrically sound and time- and cost-efficient means of incorporating vocational component. Discusses integration of SDS data with other psychoeducational data. (Author/ABL)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the comparability of the Web-based (L. K. Jones, 1997) and paper-and-pencil (L. K. Jones, 1997) versions of the Career Key career interest [...]

This study was an effort to subtype adolescents' learning disabilities using scores on the Woodcock-Johnson Psycho-Educational Battery-Revised. A cluster analysis of 88 cases classified as learning disabled and 75 as nonlearning disabled was conducted to characterize subtypes. Two distinct subtypes emerged for the group while one for the nonlearning disabled group was identified. A multivariate analysis of variance to test for differences in scores among the identified subtypes yielded significant differences, suggesting that these students had two specific types of learning disorders. Cross-validation is essential.

29 students (M age of 8.0 yr.) who were referred for evaluation were administered the Gifted Evaluation Scale, the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test, and the WISC-III. Paired t tests comparing the mean GES Quotient with the K-BIT mean IQ and WISC-III Verbal, Performance, and Full Scale IQs yielded no statistically significant differences (range of IQs = 120.6 to 122.9). While the significant correlation of the GES Quotient and WISC-III Performance IQ was .42, r = -.37 for the GES Quotient and WISC-III Verbal IQ. No significant correlation was found between the GES Quotient and the WISC-III Full Scale or K-BIT IQs. The limitations and implications of the study, with regard to the use of the Gifted Evaluation Scale, are discussed.

Elementary and secondary school administrators (N = 512) were surveyed regarding their perceptions of the amount of time school psychologists spent in 15 role-functions and satisfaction with the school psychologist. Stepwise multiple-regression procedures were used to examine the extent to which administrators' perceptions of the time spent by school psychologists in various role-functions accounted for administrators' satisfaction with school psychologists. Three role-functions were significant predictors of administrators' satisfaction: percentage of time school psychologists were perceived to be spending (a) consulting with teachers and providing instructional or remedial recommendations (positively related), (b) administering and interpreting psychoeducational tests (positively related), and (c) performing strictly administrative duties (negatively related). Implications for training and role functioning of school psychologists are mentioned.

Presents a model of vocational and career-oriented secondary school programs for the emotionally disturbed population. The model borrows principles and practices from various theoretical approaches, including the trait-factor, psychodynamic, behavioral, and developmental approaches. The methods and materials recommended are believed to be necessary for promoting independent functioning in both vocational and nonvocational life roles. (BL)

Describes how the integration of vocational assessment data into special education triennial reevaluations can facilitate educational programing of intermediate and secondary level handicapped students. Advantages of integrated assessments, roles of school psychologists, and the description of a model assessment program are included. (Author)