Integrating Theory, Research, and Practice in Vocational Psychology: Current Status and Future Directions

This publication is based on the 2016 Society for Vocational Psychology (SVP) Biennial Conference, that was held at the Florida State University on May 16-17, 2016. The conference theme was "Integrating Theory, Research, and Practice in Vocational Psychology." The conference content and the resulting edited book are based on the assumption that the science and practice of vocational psychology are more successful with the integration of theory, research, and practice. This book's purpose is to examine the challenges and opportunities for integrating theory, research, and practice in vocational psychology from the perspectives of theorists, researchers, practitioners, and journal editors, with the hope that this knowledge will lead to improved science and career interventions. Following a Foreword by Saba Rasheed Ali and a Preface by James P. Sampson, Jr., Emily Bullock-Yowell, V. Casey Dozier, Debra S. Osborn, and Janet G. Lenz, this book contains three sections and twenty chapters. Section 1, Challenges and Opportunities for Integrating Theory, Research, and Practice in Vocational Psychology, contains: (1) Integration of Theory, Research, and Practice: A Social Cognitive Perspective (Robert W. Lent); (2) Holland's Integration of Career Theory, Research, and Practice (Robert C. Reardon); (3) Counseling for Work and Relationship:A Practice-Driven Theoretical Approach (Mary Sue Richardson); (4) The Systems Theory Framework of Career Development (Wendy Patton, Mary McMahon); (5) A Cognitive Information Processing Theory for Career Choices: Challenges and Opportunities for Integrating Theory, Research, and Practice (James P. Sampson, Jr.); and (6) Integration of Theory, Research, and Practice: Using Our Tools to Address Challenging Times (Saba Rasheed Ali, Samantha D. Brown). Section 2, Using Theory and Research to Improve Evidence-Based Practice, contains: (7) The Role of Theory in Improving Evidence-Based Career Interventions (Nadya A. Fouad); (8) Meta-Analysis and Evidence-Based Career Practice: Current Status and Future Directions (Steven D. Brown); (9) Conducting General Versus Population and Setting-Specific Meta-Analyses (Susan C. Whiston); (10) Improving the Design and Use of Meta-Analyses of Career Interventions (Betsy Jane Becker); (11) Personal Reflections on a Career Spent Creating and Sustaining Researcher-Practitioner Collaborations (V. Scott H. Solberg); and (12) Summary of Key Elements in Using Theory and Research to Improve Evidence-Based Practice (Patrick J. Rottinghaus). Section 3, A View from the Editor's Desk: Ensuring Quality in Theory, Research, and Practice contains: (13) Ensuring Quality in Theory, Research, and Practice: "The Career Development Quarterly" (Ryan D. Duffy); (14) Integrating Theory, Research, and Practice: A Viewpoint from a Member of the Editorial Board of the "Journal of Career Assessment" (Itamar Gati); (15) "Journal of Career Development": Recommendations for Future Journal Practices for Integrating Career Theory, Research, and Practice (Lisa Y. Flores); (16) Ensuring Quality in Theory, Research, and Practice: "Journal of Employment Counseling" (Dale Furbish, Angie Smith); (17) Integrating Theory, Research, and Practice in Vocational Psychology: Perspectives of a "Journal of Vocational Behavior" Editorial Board Member (Donna E. Schultheiss); (18) The Role of Refereed Journals in Integrating Theory, Research, and Practice (Kimberly A. S. Howard); (19) Integrating Theory, Research, and Practice: Lessons Learned from the Evolution of Vocational Psychology (David L. Blustein); and (20) The State of the Art in Integrating Theory, Research, and Practice in Vocational Psychology (James P. Sampson, Jr., Emily Bullock-Yowell, V. Casey Dozier, Debra S. Osborn, Janet G. Lenz, Nathan T. Ross). A keyword index and an author index are included.