A Philosophical Consideration of Qualitative Career Assessment

Journal of Vocational Behavior, 2001

This article discusses the 10 separate analyses of vocational psychology's strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats that appear in this special issue, entitled "Vocational Psychology in the Next Decade." After identifying points of convergence, attention turns to summarizing, in the form of a mission statement, what vocational psychologists seem intent on doing in the coming years. The mission for vocational psychology in the next decade concentrates on advancing scientific understanding of vocational behavior and providing information to shape career interventions and inform public policy. Eight objectives that aim to execute this mission are proposed and discussed. The article closes with a consideration of how the Journal of Vocational Behavior can implement strategies to realize the eight objectives and thus contribute to fulfilling vocational psychology's mission.

… Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance, 2006

The science and professional practices of vocational psychology and career development are brought into question via a critical polemic informed by the work of Foucault, with a particular focus on the application of theory and techniques of objective assessment and psychometrics. It is asserted that the scientific and professional discourse and constructs of traditional approaches to career development have been reified. The context of this discourse is discussed with respect to the risk that career development scientists and practitioners have become unwitting or complicit instruments of a broader economic and political discourse.

Human Relations, 2011

This is the opening article in a Human Relations special issue on ‘Interdisciplinary approaches to contemporary career studies’. After introducing a story of an ‘exceptional — but real’ career, we argue for an urgent shift toward greater interdisciplinary inquiry. We reflect on the story to describe differences in the way each of psychology, sociology, social psychology, and economics views the concept of career. We turn to explore what career researchers, representing each of the above social sciences, might not see on their own. In contrast, we highlight how social scientists can move toward a) appreciating the limitations of our separate approaches, b) introducing more appropriate research methods, c) maintaining a wider cross-disciplinary conversation, and d) better serving the client — the person — in our future research. We continue with a preview of the remaining five articles in this special issue, and propose that these can serve as stimuli for a wider conversation.

In this article we consider the contribution of a social constructionist perspective to our un-derstandings of career. We examine this approach in relation to two studies: a study of womenÕs career transition from organizational employment to portfolio work, and a study of the careers of research scientists. Within the career literature a dichotomy has emerged between what are seen as ''traditional'' and ''new'' careers. On the face of it these studies seem to neatly illustrate this dichotomy. However, when examined from a social constructionist perspective, questions are raised about the viability of this binarism. In this article we argue this approach enables us to transcend dualisms which have prevailed in career theory, facilitates analyses of the relationship between careers and the social contexts in which they are embedded, and illuminates issues of power and ideology which are often eclipsed by more positivistic research approaches.

Journal of Vocational Behavior, 2002

Before discussing how to innovate the study of career development using insights from lifespan psychology and life course sociology, researchers might benefit from reconsidering whether they are studying careers or studying vocational behavior. While the word "career" seems ubiquitous in vocational psychology research, there are important differences between the study of vocational behavior, occupational roles, and career development. In this article, I urge researchers to (a) reconsider the meaning of career and research on career development, (b) adopt prospective, longitudinal research designs, and (c) concentrate first on processes of development and then on the content of careers. Considering these suggestions may ready vocational psychology for true innovations such as studying human development through work and relationships.

Journal of Vocational Behavior, 2001

2000

We have been struck by the reflective mood of many of the contributions since the previous review of the careers literature in this series ). It appears that this has been a time to take stock. The words "critical but appreciative" in our title have been borrowed from Alan Bryman's (2004) review of qualitative research on leadership. They reflect our opinion that there has been much creative and constructive work in the careers field over the last decade or so, but also some significant weaknesses and limitations. This applies to both theoretical and empirical work.

Journal of Vocational Behavior, 2001