Abstract
A training program was developed of the basis of psychological decision theories in order to support student career choices. The goal of the training program was to equip the trainees with techniques and knowledge that allow the decision process to be optimised. The training program took five to six hours, was realized with groups of 10–12 participants and consisted of several modules. Each module considered a specific stage of the decision process. The training program has been realised with a sample of 64 high-school attendants in the 10th grade in Switzerland. The acceptance of the training was evaluated with half-standardised questionnaires. The effects were evaluated with an experimental design. Results showed that the training was very highly accepted by the participants and judged as helpful in making career decisions. The most significant effect measured was the clarification of the participants’ personal goals.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aschenbrenner, K. M., Jaus, D., & Villani, C. (1980). Hierarchical goal structuring and pupils' job choices: Testing a decision aid in the field.Acta Psychologica, 45, 35-49.
Edwards, W. (1954). The theory of decision making.Psychological Bulletin, 51, 380-417.
Eisenführ, F., & Weber, M. (1999). Rationales Entscheiden [Rational decision making]. Berlin: Springer.
Feldhusen, J. F., & Clinkenbeard, P. R. (1987). Creativity instruction materials: A review of research.Journal of Creative Behaviour, 20, 153-182.
Festinger, L. (1964). Conflict, decision, and dissonance.Stanford: University Press.
Gollwitzer, P.M. (1999). Implementation intentions: Strong effects of simple plans.American Psychologist, 54, 493-503.
Gollwitzer, P. M., & Brandstaetter, V. (1997). Implementation intentions and effective goal pursuit.Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 73, 186-199.
Hany, E. (2001). Förderung der Kreativität [Developing creativity]. In K. J. Klauer (Ed.), Handbuch kognitives Training [Handbook on cognitive training] (pp. 261-291). Göttingen: Hogrefe.
Huber, O., & Potocnik, R. (1986). Entscheidungstheorie und Praxis der Berufs-und Laufbahnwahl [Decision theory and career choice practice]. In K. Daumenlang & J. Sauer (Eds.), Aspekte psychologischer Forschung [Aspects of psychological research] (pp. 107-121). Göttingen: Hogrefe.
Janis, I. L., & Mann, L. (1977). Decision making: A psychological analysis of conflict, choice, and commitment.New York: The Free Press.
Jungermann, H., Pfister, H. R., & Fischer, K. (1998). Die Psychologie der Entscheidung [The psychology of decision]. Heidelberg: Spektrum.
Kahneman, D., Slovic, P., & Tversky, A. (1982) (Eds.). Judgment under uncertainty: heuristics and biases.Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Klauer, K. J. (Ed.). (2001). Handbuch kognitives Training [Handbook on cognitive training]. Göttingen: Hogrefe.
Kühberger, A. (1994). Risiko und Unsicherheit: Zum Nutzen des SEU-Modells [Risk and uncertainty]. Psychologische Rundschau, 45, 3-23.
Mann, L. (1972). Use of a balance-sheet procedure to improve the quality of personal decision making.Journal of Vocational Behaviour, 2, 291-300.
Maurer, A. (1998). Entscheidungstraining: Bilden von Zielhierarchien: Konzeption - Erprobung - Evaluierung [Decision training: Building goal hierarchies]. Unpublished master's thesis, University of Fribourg, Switzerland.
Nisbett, R., & Ross, L. (1980). Human inference: strategies and shortcomings of social judgment.Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall.
Paul, G. (1984). Entscheidungshilfen im Studien-und Berufswahlprozess [Decision support in the process of educational and career choice]. Frankfurt: Peter Lang.
Peterson, G.W., Sampson, J. P., Reardon, R. C., & Lenz, J. G. (1996). A cognitive information processing approach to career problem solving and decision making.In D. Brown & L. Brooks (Eds.), Career Choice and Development (pp. 423-475). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass Publishers.
Plous, S. (1993). The psychology of judgement and decision making.New York: McGraw-Hill.
Potocnik, R. (1990). Entscheidungstraining zur Berufs-und Studienwahl [Decision training for educational and career choice]. Bern: Huber.
Potocnik, R. (1993). Entscheidungstraining zur Laufbahnwahl: Konzeption, Evaluierung, Erfahrungen [Decision training for career choice]. Zeitschrift für Arbeits-und Organisationspsychologie, 37, 95-100.
Sampson, J. P., Lenz, J. G., Reardon, R. C., & Peterson, G.W. (1999). A cognitive information processing approach to employment problem solving and decision making.The Career Development Quarterly, 48, 3-30.
Tversky, A. (1972). Elimination of aspects. A theory of choice.Psychological Review, 79, 281-299.
Wüthrich, U. (1999). Entscheidungstraining zur Laufbahnwahl [Decision training for career choice] Unpublished master's thesis, University of Fribourg, Switzerland (Available on: http://www.teuscher.ch/ursina).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Teuscher, U. Evaluation of a Decision Training Program for Vocational Guidance. International Journal for Educational and Vocational Guidance 3, 177–192 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:IJVO.0000006585.21787.0e
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:IJVO.0000006585.21787.0e