Chapter 12: Assessment and Career Development in the Schools: Constructs, Design, and Data Analysis

This chapter introduces educators to strategies and tools to assist in outcome based assessment of career development. The authors discuss key constructs in career development and how to articulate an evaluation question utilizing such constructs as measurable outcomes. Utilizing school based examples of outcome based assessment of career development interventions; the authors illustrate steps in design and data analysis. The chapter focuses on career assessment instruments and data analysis tools that can be used by the practicing educator.

“If this vital period is allowed to pass without the broad development and special training that belong to it, no amount of education in after years can ever redeem the loss” (Parsons, 1909, p. 165). Anyone who has worked in a school in the past several decades is aware of the increased accountability and emphasis on assessment in schools. While career counseling has long been an integral part of sociopolitical reform (Herr, 2003), it is generally absent from specific mention in recent educational reform literature. Yet, career development interventions are especially integral to students educational planning and relatedly career/college readiness.