The Impact of a Narrative Informed Intervention on Career Decision Self-Efficacy and Occupational Engagement

Abstract

This study investigates the contribution of the narrative approach to career counseling that addresses the changing nature of work facing those seeking career services. To analyze this, 84 students in a career exploration course were divided between those who received the treatment as it had been done in the past and those who received the treatment plus the narrative perspective and interventions. A repeated measures ANOVA was performed and found a significant effect across time but no significant interaction effects. This did not confirm either of the hypotheses that the narrative additions would significantly increase above that of the treatment-as-usual group: a) the students' occupational engagement as measured by the OES or b) the students' career decision self-efficacy as measured by the CDSE scale. This study raises awareness for the need of further investigations into the narrative and other constructivist perspectives in career counseling.