Computerized Systems of Career Information and Guidance: A State-of-the-Art

Abstract

The need for timely, accurate, and locally relevant career information has been escalating. Within the last fifteen years, computer-based systems have been developed which put occupational descriptions, labor market information, plus education, training and financial aid information into formats usable by students and adults in school and non-school settings. The proliferation of systems marketed competitively, the increasing depth and breadth of information available, plus the sophistication of the guidance aspects of systems has produced a consumer's dream, but also a major dilemma. Selection of a system for a statewide or substate unit which corresponds to the particular needs of the targeted constituency requires thorough knowledge of the prospective users' characteristics, material, and human resources available, hardware capacities, software content and hardware/software compatibility. This paper provides a context for understanding the properties of computer-based systems, their theoretical approaches and the dimensions to the problems of selection.