The Observational Era

The Observational Era

mid 1800s through the early years of the 1900s (Industrial Revolution)

During this time: 
  • social protest and social reform and the Progressive Movement in efforts to change negative conditions associated with the Industrial Revolution
  • the term vocational guidance was introduced and sponsored by the Young Men's Christian Association and Lysander Richards (author of Vocophy: The New Profession)
Practitioners then used phrenology, physiognomy, palmistry, and were largely discredited.

Image result for observational era in career counseling

Frank Parsons: 

    Image result for frank parsons
  • was a social reformer
  • has been identified as the "dominant visionary and architect of vocational guidance"
  • opened the Vocational Bureau in a settlement home in 1908 called the Civic Service House
  • wrote Choosing a Vocation
Choosing a Vocation (the three-step approach):
  1. clear understanding of self, aptitudes, interests, ambitions, resources, limitations (and their causes)
  2. knowledge of the requirements and conditions of success, advantages and disadvantages, compensation, opportunities, and prospects in different lines of work
  3. true reasoning on the relations of the two groups of facts
To carry out this approach, Parsons depended on a self analysis requiring five steps:
  1. Personal Data
  2. Self-Analysis
  3. Person's Own Choice and Decision
  4. Counselor's Analysis
  5. Outlook on the Vocational Field
  6. Induction and Advice
  7. General Helpfulness in Fitting in the Chosen Work
He also relied on the new field of testing to measure mental capabilities, called on Hugo Munsterberg (Harvard Psychology Laboratory Director), and began using mental tests to assess clients. 

Advocates for the Paper and Pencil Mental and Intelligence Testing (the Army Alpha and the Beta Tests): 
  • James Cottell
  • Hugo Munsterberg
  • H.L. Hollinworth
After the World War I, the tests were used in schools and industry.

Gysbers, N.C., Heppner, M.J., Johnston, J.A. (2014). Career Counseling: Holism, Diversity, and Strengths. Alexandria, VA: American Counseling Association.

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