Hard-earned Play: Vocational testing
Forget what I told you in class about picking any psychological test as your favorite. We're strictly focusing on vocational tests in this blog.
Your extra credit assignment:
It's time to pretend, so get your imagination on! A brand new case has been referred to you.
Connie Sternation (let's call her Con), is suffering from job-related burn-out. The prior counselor failed to offer vocational testing and that's why she ended up in job burn-out land. This could have been prevented, but without any direction from her counselor, she chose a job that didn't match her interests and skill level. This could have been prevented had you been her counselor ab initio (from the beginning). First, you offer her a stress reduction program, which includes this song by me, Dr BLT.
Hard-earned Play (sample)
Dr BLT ft. Greg Pisano and Cassidy Johnson
words and music by Dr Bruce L Thiessen, aka Dr BLT © 2010
In addition to offering her Hard-earned Play, you encourage her to quit her present job, (because they are already theatening to fire her), and offer her a complete battery of tests that will help her to get a sense of her job interests and skills, so she doesn't make the same mistake again.
Your favorite among these tests will be ______________________________. Tell us why this is your favorite test. Try not to pick the same test as somebody else. I will check posts frequently to assist you in avoiding that pitfall.
I would like you to post your reply here, and then present it orally in front of your classmates on Tuesdays, with or without the aid of Power Point.
The first ten students to supply a reply will win the song, the digital Dr BLT download mp3 version of Hard-earned Play.
Additional homework due by the next class will include:
1. Discussing the psychological report we went over in class on the discussion board.
2. All assigned reading, including the article on Structural Analysis of Social Behavior posted on Blackboard and chapters noted in your text for week three as noted in Blackboard.
As far as the midterm is concerned, we'll do that together, as a group, but we may put it off for another week or so.
Remember, the Blackboard is not your boss. I'm not either, but I am your instructor. Be a good boss to yourself by not allowing yourself to get overwhelmed. Contact me any time if you feel overwhelmed confused, or if you have a question or some feedback that will assist me in making this class as rewarding and valuable as possible.
I look forward to seeing all of you next week. I will perform a "live" version of "Hard-earned Play," along "Psychological Cowboy," and perhaps a couple of other old favorites. Rumor has it, there will be a special guest guitar player who is also a fellow student of yours. You will also present on your favorite vocational instrument and we will do more Socratic questioning and other creative adaptation of course content.
Posted by Bruce L Thiessen Ph D at 9/15/2010 6:15 AM 
Categories: hard-earned play
Tags: hard-earned Play
Categories: hard-earned play
Tags: hard-earned Play
I'd like to cover •Becker Work Adjustment Profile - 2nd Ed. (Becker, 2005)if it is not taken. I need to know soon though, I'm packing up for my camping trip with my son... Thanks!
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I am going to have Con take WorkKeys which is a work skills assessment. I like this assessment because it will allow Con to compare her own abilities with those that are required for different occupations.
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The vocational test I like is Work Beliefs Inventory WBI and another way they call it is Career Beliefs Inventory CBI. It determines your top work-related values, "to find a clients hidden values and ideas."
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I would like to have the client complete the Strong Interest Inventory in order to provide some base of reference for comparative interest. Additionally, I would like to see the administration of the Stanford-Binet, not only for the resulting intelligence quotient, but also for the related insight into the varying "types" of mentation that may be revealed. I feel that not only is finding an area of potential interest of merit, but it also seems worthwhile to be able to offer the client some perspective on how their inherent reasoning patterns may, or may not, lend themselves to a particular vocational path. I also have some personal experience with these items and the test validity that I have experienced has been comparable to the high levels reported in the professional materials.
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JCI Job Copatability Index is a test designed to help you quickly if your current job and career is appropriate for you.
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The vocational testing measure that I will be using will be: The Vocational Aptitude testing, The aptitude career tests try to determine how well you are likely perform a role in future. They analyze your skills including your verbal, numerical and spatial capabilities. They focus upon:
• Your capability to think logically and analyze correctly.
• Your areas of strength and weaknesses.
• Your leadership qualities.
• Your comprehension and communication skills.
• Your capabilities that may be improved, and
• Your hidden potentials for your specific role.
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Dr. BLT, and fellow classmates, I am having difficulty accessing the full text of the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior article on blackboard. How can I find it?
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I want to take a shot at "differential aptitude testing." It is relatively new concept in vocational testing.
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I found the description of the O*NET Work Importance Profiler (WIP) interesting since it measures 6 core values, rates them for the individual and then checks occupations (on the U.S. Dept. of Labor's internet site) in which those values rank highest. Con may be surprised to see her highest-rated values and also the jobs which correspond.
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I like the Self-Directed Search(SDS)because it has versions for self testing and for testing with the help of a professional counselor. I agree with the assumption that "people will be most satisfied if they live and work in an environmrnt that is compatible with their interests and skills" (Hood & Johnson, 2007)
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Okay, I think we have enough variety right now so that those who haven't commented yet can pick one of the same ones, if it's truly your favorite!
BTW, is anybody else besides Elena having trouble accessing the full text of the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior? I had the same issue. If there are access problems, just read the abstract.
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Yep, me too. I could only see ths abstract.
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If you go to the Sage Journals via our library, you can access a copy of the full article by typing in and searching the title. Be forewarned - the article is a little "thick."
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I don't think anyone picked this one so i am going to do it on Standard Occupational Classification System (SOC)
And yes it will not allow me to open the Structural Analysis of Social Behavior. See you guys tomorrow!!
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The only way I could access the full-page article was through the on-line Chapman library. SAGE is the Index site, then the name of the journal is "Assessment"
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I actually changed my mind I would rather do it on General Aptitude Test Battery (GAT
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I would recommend The Simmons Personal Survey. This survey is a job-related assessment tool. It includes 57 performance indicators, it measures the job-related behavioral and emotional tendencies like Stress, Self-Esteem, Commitment to work, Attention to detail, optimism, desire for change physical courage assertiveness, self-direction, tolerance,consideration for other people, and sociability. Character qualities are then compared to one of a set of standard job norms. Results would determine job performance in any type of job. This survey would be a great tool for selecting a job or career that best fits each individual.
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I will do the Kuder Career Search (KCS) with person match, mostly because I don't think anyone else is doing it and it would be nice to not have repeat topics, and partly because I think it could be a valuable tool in getting Con to start thinking about different career options and what she may or may not like.
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I've decided to present the DISC Assessment. I recently took this test to measure the type of worker I was and how this effects people I work with that have different styles of working.
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Terrific choices, all of you. Since you had to go outside of blackboard to get the full text of the article, you won't be responsible for this class. Also, I hope to be able distribute the musical prizes within a day or two. Congratulations to all of the winners.
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I thought I posted my choice already, but I do not see it here. I will do Vocational Preference Inventory VPI.
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