Assessment of Children’s and Adolescents’ Career Development

In: Career Development in Childhood and Adolescence
Author:
James A. Athanasou University of Technology Sydney

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This chapter reviews the person-environment fit and constructivist traditions of children's and adolescent's career development. The background and key issues associated with these perspectives on assessment are outlined and critiqued. Three case studies are used as a central focus for discussion and used to highlight the quantitative versus qualitative nature of the assessment processes. Both the analytical and descriptive perspectives are seen as complementary. Neither is considered adequate as a complete basis for career exploration and decisionmaking. Some recommended aspects of career development assessment are provided for both approaches and these are incorporated within a holistic career counselling framework. The emphasis is on how the results of an assessment might be used. The overwhelmingly adult orientation of career development assessment is noted and a case is made for a more extensive career development assessment process throughout childhood and adolescence. The chapter concludes with a discussion of developmentally appropriate methods, the meaningfulness of scores, ethical issues and the importance of a counselling orientation in assessment

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