Three approaches to counselor-free career exploration among college women.

Compared the effects of 3 counselor-free career exploration treatments, the interpretive format of the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory (SCII), the Self-Directed Search (SDS), and the Vocational Card Sort (VCS), using 140 undergraduate women. One significant group effect was found, indicating that the SDS and VCS Holland themes were more closely related to the expressed choices of Ss than were the SCII themes. A comparison of the number of significant pretest/posttest and interaction effects suggests that reactivity is a potential issue of concern and that overall, few treatment differences exist. The significant effects found tentatively suggest that the general occupational themes of the SCII may cause some confusion in Ss seeking confirmation of their expressed choices. No significant differences were found between the groups on the Ss' perceptions of sex bias in the instruments. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)