Careers, Counseling, and Control.

This paper describes and analyzes current research in career development, suggests further issues for investigation, and offers recommendations for research based on social learning theory and self-control techniques which would result in a self-management approach to career decisions. A decision-making model of career choice similar to the scientific method is presented with suggestions for counselor implementation. From the viewpoint of the counselor's role as one of helping clients to engineer their own decisions, some practical knowledge requirements are identified as guides to needed research. The kinds of questions and methods currently pursued in career research are briefly reviewed and their limitations and possibilities are examined. The career development theories of Holland and Super are described along with typical research questions, methods, and overall results. The social learning model of career selection formulated by Krumboltz is outlined with suggestions for counselor implementation and research possibilities. As a conceptual basis for experimental studies on career relevant behavior, a self-control framework is proposed and the four areas of commitment, awareness, environment, and consequences are discussed as each relates to career issues. A discussion of research needs poses questions about self-control techniques which merit further investigation. (NJ)