Trait and Factor Theory

A Bit of History

Counselor Implications,

Pros & Cons

• Frank Parsons
• Outlined the concept of trait and factor theory (Parsons, 1909)
• Trait-characteristic of an individual that can be measured through testing
• Factor-characteristic that is required for successful job performance
• Examples: Aptitude, Ability, Achievement, Interests, Values, & Personality
• Proposed a 3-step approach to occupational selection

• Placing too much emphasis on assessment over feelings, processing, and reflection
• Deceptively simple theory to use--may prevent rapport-building by focusing too much on question/answer
• Provides an overview, but not details about the client
• T&F Theory is static rather than developmentally oriented--traits may change over time
• Careful of transference of counselor's own values

3 Steps, according to Frank Parsons

1. Gaining Self-Understanding

3. Integrating Information About One's Self and the World of Work

The Major Goal of Trait and Factor Theory of Career Counseling

• Integrating information about self and occupations
• The interaction of Tests, Inventories, Computer Guidance Systems, & Counselor Interview
• Helps clients to work through difficult and unusual concerns with a counselor

Implications for Women

Counseling Interview, Formal Assessments & Inventories

• Aptitude-measure future level of ability to perform a task
• Achievement-measure accomplishment and are specific to a given task or profession
• Interests-measure what people enjoy doing and most accurately predict occupational success and satisfaction
• Values-measure career or general values, although an elusive and less reliable measure
• Personality-measure dimensions such as flexibility and self-control to enhance client and counselor understanding about the best career matches

Trait and Type Theories Explained

How long have you been out of the workforce?

• "For early returners, stress experiences clearly resulted in regrets about being back at work. In contrast, women who returned after a longer leave were rather resilient in the face of family-related stress."

-Wiese &Ritter, 2011

• Well-adapted or vocationally secure women have been shown to have strong interest and abilities in the sciences.
• Women underestimate their abilities in general learning, verbal & spacial ability, form and clerical perception, and motor coordination.

2. Obtaining Knowledge About the World of Work

Types of Occupational Information

• Descriptions of Occupations, Qualifications Required, Necessary Education, Salary, Working Conditions
• Classification Systems, such as DOT and O*NET
• Job-related requirements available in occupational literature, such as pamphlets and books

• Trait and Factor
• Matching characteristics of people and jobs
• Sociological and Economic Theories
• Work Adjustment Theory
• Matching needs and skills of individuals and occupations
• Holland's Theory of Types
• Matching people with environments
• Myers-Briggs Type Theory
• Ways of perceiving and judging the world

Multicultural Considerations

• Most research has focused on cultural differences in interests and work values
• Limited availability of occupational information across all people living in the US
• Strong Interest Inventory was valid for many cultural groups
• Asian-American college students have social occupation interests, as opposed to stereotypical, traditional views of purely scientific career interests for this group
• Criticized for not having enough African-American participants in research studies
• Native Americans value community-oriented work
• Level of acculturation plays a role in career values

Overview

References

• Who We Are
• Historical Perspective
• Basic Tenets
• Implications for Women
• Multicultural Considerations
• Group Activity
• Processing and Wrap-up

Photo and Youtube video:

www.andthevalleyshook.com

www.youtube.com

Parsons, F. (1909). Choosing a vocation. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

Richardson, P. W., & Watt, H. M. G. (2008). Career change? Monash Business Review, 4, 7+. Retrieved from http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA191393648&v=2.1&u=gain40375&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&asid=90f652143e32f2cfe370d004cf8de2d3

Wiese, B. S., & Ritter, J. O. (2012). Timing matters: Length of leave and working mothers' daily reentry regrets. Developmental Psychology, 48(6), 1797-1807. doi:10.1037/a0026211

Women Rejoining the Workforce

Hannah Warwick, M.Ed./Ed.S., LMFT

Stuart J. Levit, M.Ed./Ed.S., LMFT

University of Florida Career Resource Center

Seinfeld on...Career Guidance

Career Change?

"People who switch from one career to another may do so because of the pay, job security, the need for a challenge, for personal or professional development, a quest for new experiences, to address a set of personal goals, or for a combination of these and other reasons."

--Richardson & Watt, 2008

Trait and Factor Theory