Career Theory and Career Guidance, Article Critique Example

Sampson, J.P., Dozier, V.C., Colvin, G.P.  (2011). Translating Career Theory to Practice: The Risk of Unintentional Social Injustice. Journal of Counseling Si Development. 89:326-337.

Abstract

An important aspect of social justice involves ensuring that effective career guidance is readily accessible to all citizens. The career theory used to guide the delivery of career services can contribute to or detract from social justice. This article examines the translation of career theory to practice, the effectiveness of career interventions, and access to career guidance. Collaborative career counseling is presented as an intervention to improve access to career services.

The article investigates the effect of career theory on the outcome of career guidance. The authors indicate that the career theory works in collaboration with career counseling in order to help improve individual’s access and success to career guidance.  The authors also discuss the balance between career theory effectiveness and career guidance intervention.   During the introduction, the authors clearly identify the elements of career guidance and specifically describe the terms for the reader.  For instance, career guidance, career guidance interventions, career resources, persons receiving career guidance, and practitioners are described in detail.  The paper also describes how the career theory can translate into career counseling practice.  It is stated that practitioners can utilize the career theory to decrease complex behaviors and help the practitioners choose the guidance interventions specific to the client.  The authors provide literature review and previous studies indicating that applying the career theory to practice is a necessity for career guidance.  In addition, literature reviews illustrate the cost effectiveness of career guidance interventions as well.

With the given background information, the authors discuss the need for researchers to examine career theories and interventions to populations that are neglected in order for social justice to be served.  The purpose of this paper was therefore to examine the elements of career theory and its collaborative effects with career counseling and support the notion that these collaborative measures should service people who are in need of this type of counseling.  The authors evaluate the cost of this approach to these populations and other solutions to improve career guidance at cost effective service.

Overall the paper provides good detail in regard to description of terms; however, the paper should contain more statistical data describing preliminary research or previous research that supports the combination of career theory and career guidance interventions.  The purpose of the paper, however, leads to a good outcome and for the possibility of funds and research to measure the effectiveness of these types of services to the populations that are in need of career guidance .