Vocational Rehabilitation Clients Research Articles

Perceived Importance of Counselor Characteristics Among Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors and Clients

The differences between counselors' and clients' perceptions of what is important to be an effective Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) counselor were investigated. Questionnaires completed by 187 counselors and 122 clients were utilized to identify counselor characteristics, knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors/skills perceived to be most important. Multivariate analyses of the data revealed some significant differences between and within counselors' and clients' ratings of the importance of specific counselor performance items. Counselors were found to value task-oriented behaviors including goal setting, problem-solving, and decision-making more than clients. Results also indicated that female counselors and clients, as compared to their male counterparts, believe that it is more important for counselors to be caring, encouraging, and supportive. It was also found that Hispanic clients differed from both black and white clients on the importance of several counselor characteristics. Implications of these findings for improving the delivery of services to clients are discussed.

Investigation of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised Short Forms in a Sample of Vocational Rehabilitation Applicants

This study investigated the validity of two- and four-subtest combinations as estimates of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised (WAIS-R) Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) among vocational rehabilitation clients (N= 93). Pearson product-moment correlations between FSIQ and two- and four-subtest short forms were .90 and .91, respectively. Both short forms classified approximately 72% of the subjects correctly by intelligence category. When short-form IQs were banded by the standard error of measurement (2.53) at the .95 level of confidence, the four-subtest forms' intelligence classification accuracy improved from 72%o to 80%. It was concluded that neither short form is clearly superior in providing a precise measure of intelligence. However, short forms of the variety used in this study might be used as screening devices in vocational rehabilitation applicants, but only when the clinician desires a gross measure of intellectual functioning. Additional vocational rehabilitation clients should be evaluated to determine whether these findings are generally applicable.

Benefits vs. earnings for vocational rehabilitation clients: The anchoring effect

Benefits vs. earnings for vocational rehabilitation clients: The anchoring effect

Comparative Validity of Two Wais—R Short Forms with Vocational Rehabilitation Clients

Scores from two (Vocabulary, Block Design) and four (Arithmetic, Vocabulary, Block Design, and Picture Arrangement) subtest short forms of the WAIS—R were compared with the Full Scale IQs for vocational rehabilitation clients, 305 mentally retarded, emotionally disturbed, and physically handicapped subjects. Some large differences between mean IQs, some low correlations between IQs once corrected for spuriousness, and high misclassification rates suggest caution in using the short-form IQs. Use of the Full Scale IQ for screening vocational rehabilitation clients is recommended.

The Development and Implementation of a Music Therapy Physiological Measures Test

The purposes of this study were to design a music therapy physiological measures test(MTPMT) and to implement initial standardization procedures by administering the MTPMT to a sample of vocational rehabilitation clients. This evaluation, developed with the assistance of a physical therapy consultant, involves measurement of motions required for performance on four musical instruments: piano, organ, classical guitar, and trap drum set. The MTPMT was administered individually to 30 subjects, with two separate administrations conducted at 1-week intervals. The physical therapy consultant administered a comparable physical therapy evaluation containing the same items of motion as the MTPMT. When data from the MTPMT were compared to data from the physical therapy evaluation, a significant validity coefficient was obtained (r = .95, df = .28, p < .01). When test-retest data from the MTPMT were compared, a significant reliability coefficient was obtained (r = .96, df = 28, p < .01). These results indicate that the MTPMT is a reliable, valid, easily administered method for recording gross and fine movements used in instrumental performance. This test may be helpful to music therapists who use musical instruments to facilitate physical rehabilitation within a variety of settings.

Relationship of General Aptitude Test Battery scores to successful employment for epileptics in a rehabilitation setting.

The US Employment Service's (USES) General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB), when used with USES-developed cut-off scores, has been found to be an accurate predictor of successful job performance. In the present study, results of the GATB scores obtained by vocational rehabilitation clients (n = 15) who were successfully placed into permanent employment were evaluated with reference to published GATB norms and cut-off scores. The major finding of this study was that the scores were not accurate predictors of successful employment for this population. Subjects' subtest scores averaged between 1/2 and 2 SD below the published means, with scores on subtests measuring motor speed and dexterity producing the lowest values. Subtests measuring verbal and visual--spatial ability produced relatively higher values. In only 3 instances was successful employment predicted by the cut-off scores. For the entire sample, GATB scores were frequently low enough to indicate poor job performance in nearly all occupations covered by published cut-off scores. Based on the results from the present study, and considering the wide-spread use of the GATB in the United States, a more comprehensive research project is being implemented to adapt GATB material for use with the targeted population.

Psychosocial factors affecting the employment of former vocational rehabilitation clients.

Psychosocial factors affecting the employment of former vocational rehabilitation clients.

Predicting the community performance of vocational rehabilitation clients.

The outcome for 70 chronic psychiatric patients who had completed a clerical training program at a state hospital rehabilitation center was examined after they had spent some time in the community. Successful completion of the program was found to be the strongest predictor of successful vocational functioning in the community. The only demographic variables associated with this posthospital performance were race, marital status, and living arrangements. Patients who were black, who were or had been married, or who did not live with their parents were more likely to perform at a high level in the community. It is suspected, however, that race was predictive of outcome only because it was highly correlated with living arrangements.

Description and application of an evaluation scheme for assessment from a decision-making perspective.

Described a scheme for evaluating the utility of test data in decision-making. The scheme, which is based upon a dispositional model of assessment, asks three sequential, binary questions about the total assessment procedure. The three questions focus on whether meaningful referral questions are asked, whether an accurate understanding of the client is achieved, and whether the available interventions are related effectively to the individual client's needs. The scheme is applied to a group of vocational rehabilitation clients (N = 58) from a rural area. Results showed the scheme to be reliable in evaluating the results of the assessments. The categorization showed a surprisingly high percentage of cases in which no meaningful referral questions were asked. Further, the scheme highlighted the differences between a diagnostic model of testing and dispositional assessment. For example, requiring the assessor to understand the treatment context as well as the client results in a more conservative estimate of the assessments' successes. It also results in evaluations that are more meaningful in terms of meeting the client's goals. Finally possible effects of the rural context in which the assessments were conducted on the types of errors made were discussed.

The Relationship of Rehabilitation Client Vocational Appraisal to Training Outcome and Employment

This study examined the relationship between work evaluatio recommendations and client outcome in a sample of vocational rehabilitation clients enrolled at a comprehensive rehabilitation center. Analysis of selected demographic, psychological, and vocational information indicated no relationship between type of recommendations made and completion of a center training program; completion of a center program, however, was positively related to statu. “26” (successful) rehabilitation closure. For clients employed posttraining, there was only a 23% match between vocational training received and kind of job accepted at closure. The findings replicate an earlier study and suggest that predicting tenure in training is different from predicting posttraining employment. Implications for practitioners are discussed.

Bender Gestalt recall: memory measure or intelligence estimate.

WAIS subtest standard scores, IQ scores, and factorial deviation quotients were correlated with Bender Gestalt recall scores for 111 vocational rehabilitation clients. The number of Bender designs recalled was associated significantly with intellectual measures, with the strength of association somewhat stronger with nonverbal than with verbal scores. Bender recall scores were correlated more highly with Perceptual Organization DQs than with Memory-Freedom from Distractibility DQs, but that difference only approached significance. Despite the relationships between Bender recall scores and intelligence scores, the Bender recall task could not classify Ss as to general intelligence level with greater accuracy than could be obtained with the WAIS Vocabulary subtest alone.

Attitudes of Disabled Individuals Enrolled in a Workstation Center and a Community College Program

This study measured the attitudes of disabled individuals toward the staff who gave them rehabilitation services. The attitudes of two groups of clients at a rehabilitation hospital were evaluated: (a) clients from a vocational rehabilitation workshop and (b) clients from a community college satellite program. Testing was performed at three‐week intervals. It was found that clients in the community college program perceived their staff as having more concern than the workshop group. No relationship was found between attitudes and the length of time in the respective program. Clients who entered programs appeared to have attitudes that did not change to any great extent while they were in the rehabilitation programs.

Reinforcers and vocational maturity in occupational aspiration, expectation, and goal deflection

When vocational aspirations and expectations are not the same, this difference is termed occupational goal deflection. The present study was designed to investigate the notion that such aspirations, expectations, and goal deflection are related to an individual's vocational maturity, education, and job reinforcers. The subjects were 149 vocational rehabilitation clients and 51 graduate students. Analyses of variance yielded findings that more vocationally mature individuals tend to display greater vocational aspiration, greater vocational expectation, and less goal deflection. Similarily, subjects who value such job characteristics as “getting a feeling of accomplishment, fair company policies, trying out their own ideas, doing work without feeling it is morally wrong, making their own decisions, (and) planning work with little supervision” tend to have higher aspirations and expectations, but lower goal deflection.

Reinforcers, values, and vocational maturity in adults

The purpose of the present study was to test the notion that job reinforcers and occupational values are related to vocational maturity. The importance of 21 reinforcers and 11 values were rated by 207 vocational rehabilitation clients nad 59 graduate students. The dependent measure was the Adult Vocational Maturity Index. Older subjects with more education were more vocationally mature. Those subjects who considered-(a) getting a feeling of accomplishment, (b) doing work without feeling it is morally wrong, (c) having steady employment, (d) independence, (e) opportunity to use special talents, (f) challenge, and (g) self-satisfaction-important, were high in vocational maturity. Subjects who considered such things as-(a) telling other workers what to do, (b) having the position of “somebody” in the community, and (c) prestige-important, were lower in vocational maturity. The data indicated that choice of occupational reinforcers and preferences for specified values are reflected in the individual's “vocational maturity”.

Need for achievement as a determinant of job proficiency, employability, and training satisfaction of vocational rehabilitation clients

Job proficiency, personal quality, employability, training satisfaction, manifest anxiety, locus of control, and 16 other personality attributes of 140 vocational rehabilitation clients were investigated in relation to their manifest need for achievement. Correlates of manifest need for achievement found were the subject's appearance ( r = .19, p < .05), work tolerance ( r = .23, p < .05), composite personal quality rating ( r = .23, p < .05), and total workshop performance ( r = .20, p < .05). Manifest need for achievement as a personality variable proved to be uncorrelated with and, therefore, independent of the 16 personality attributes as measured by the 16 PF, manifest anxiety, and internal-external locus of control.

A COMPARISON BETWEEN TWO PLACEMENT PROGRAMS FOR HARD‐CORE UNEMPLOYED PERSONS

An exploratory placement class was conducted to teach vocational rehabilitation clients techniques of securing jobs. The results of this attempt were compared to a similar program conducted through another agency. The differences between the two programs suggest techniques that could increase the employment potential of vocational rehabilitation clients.

Rehabilitation following cardiac surgery.

Of 120 vocational rehabilitation clients having cardiac surgery between July, 1966 and December, 1968, seven were lost to follow-up, and the operative and late mortality totaled 14%. Ninety-six patients were seen for voluntary outpatient evaluation with a mean postoperative evaluation time of 22 months. Two-thirds of the patients had acquired heart disease and were in functional class III or IV preoperatively. After surgery 76 were in functional class I or II with 20 in functional class III. The electrocardiogram and radiographic heart size had returned toward normal in over 50%, and 76% of those having preoperative exercise tests demonstrated improved exercise capacity postoperatively. The rehabilitation effort was successful in 83% of those surviving surgery and 77% of the entire series. Medical and surgical physical factors were found to be more important than psychosocial factors in determining the vocational outcome after surgery. The duration of unemployment was the most important preoperative variable in predicting the rehabilitation result. The importance of medical follow-up after cardiac surgery is emphasized by the detection of a significant number of residual medical problems.

A Personal Growth Program for Self-Directed Groups

Twenty-four vocational rehabilitation clients participated in a nineday "Self-Improvement Workshop." They met in self-directed groups of approximately eight persons for two, two-hour sessions a day, using a set of program materials recorded on audio-tape. The program materials were designed to enhance opportunities for selfexploration and personal growth by presenting a series of interpersonal exercises. Results indicate that the subjects using the program materialswere enabled to become more open, sensitive to others, self-accept-ing, and self-motivating, as measured by a battery of pre-, post-,session-by-session, and daily instruments. Control subjects whowere given no group experience showed no such changes. This study is part of the continuing research activity on self-di-rected groups that has been conducted at the Western BehavioralSciences Institute since 1960 (Berzon &amp; Solomon, 1964; Solomon,Berzon, &amp; Weedman, 1968). The current paper describes an experi-mental evaluation of the authors' second effort to enhance personalgrowth in a self-directed small group through the use of programmaterials.' This effort, much more than the previous one, empha-sizes experiential over cognitive learning.

Locus of control as a determinant of job proficiency, employability, and training satisfaction of vocational rehabilitation clients.

Locus of control as a determinant of job proficiency, employability, and training satisfaction of vocational rehabilitation clients.

The Intelligence Status of Some Vocational Rehabilitation Clients

The Intelligence Status of Some Vocational Rehabilitation Clients