A Universe of Stories

The complete adoption of a narrative paradigm for therapy is proposed and its implications and possibilities spelled out, especially for life in a post-modern world that lacks any objective frame of reference. In the post-modern sensibility, the story is set free to perform as simply a story that allows for re-invention as the story-teller finds a voice rooted in the person's own experience and in the connection of her story to those of others, and to larger stories of culture and humanity. The realization that we are all characters in each other's stories as well as our own reminds us that our stories only go forward as we act in ways that also forward the stories of others. A hermeneutics for such therapy validates and questions all points of view so that they do not harden into stories that are assumed to be objectively true.     

A Model for Planning Career Continuation and Change Through Increased Awareness,Knowledge, and Skill

A 3-stage sequence based on increased awareness of assumptions, knowledge of relevant information, and skill in taking appropriate action (AKS) is presented as a model for outplacement counseling. The rationale, structure, assumptions, principles, and evaluation of an outplacement counseling program using this AKS model are discussed.     

JOB SAMPLE VS. PAPER-AND-PENCIL TRADES AND TECHNICAL TESTS: ADVERSE IMPACT AND EXAMINEE ATTITUDES1

The adverse impact of a content-valid job sample test of metal trades skills was compared to that of a well-constructed content-valid written achievement test for the same technical area. The adverse impact of the former was considerably less. In addition, both minority and majority examinees saw the job sample tests as significantly fairer, clearer, and more appropriate in difficulty level. These differences were not only statistically significant but also quite large. These were no significant differences between minority and majority attitudes toward either test. In light of these results, it is suggested that industrial psychologists should explore more fully the potential of performance testing.     

RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PSYCHOLOGICAL CLIMATE AND A VIE MODEL FOR WORK MOTIVATION1

The present study examined relationships between psychological climate and components of a valence-instrumentality-expectancy model. Data were obtained from 504 managerial employees of a large health care company. A principal component analysis of responses to 35 composites representing perceptions of the job, leadership, workgroup, and organization yielded six psychological climate components. Similar analyses were conducted separately for 20 valence items and 20 instrumentality items. Considerable similarity was found among the instrumentality and valence components, with one component in each area representing intrinsic outcomes, one component representing organizationally-mediated extrinsic outcomes, one representing negative or neutral outcomes, and one representing leader and workgroup-mediated extrinsic outcomes. Relationships among psychological climate and valence-instrumentality-expectancy components were significant and supported several hypotheses proposed in the literature.     

The Results of Family Therapy Revisited: The Nonbehavioral Methods

Studies from 1971 to 1976 reporting on the outcome of the nonbehavioral family therapies are analyzed and critically reviewed. Such research has increased in both quality and quantity since 1970 and, broadly speaking, has legitimized the status of family therapy as a viable mode of helping. Particularly potent effects were noted for family therapy as an alternative to psychiatric hospitalization, with psychosomatic problems in children and adolescents, and in certain applications with parent-child and parent-adolescent relationships. However, a number of studies comparing family therapy with no formal treatment or an alternative treatment found little difference in outcome. Problems in family therapy outcome research are discussed and some future directions suggested.     

Test Anxiety Workshops Using Undergraduates as Leaders

Many college students delay seeking counseling for test anxiety until too little time remains before the exams for adequate scheduling with counselors. A one-hour test-anxiety workshop using 13 specially trained undergraduate leaders served 195 students with test-anxiety problems. Most (89%–94%) reported beneficial effects from the low-cost workshops.     

Ethical Considerations in Family Therapy Research

In this article, significant ethical issues that arise in the conduct of family therapy research are considered and four major areas are emphasized: (a) the researcher's responsibility to protect the rights of research participants, (b) confidentiality and informed consent, (c) the researcher's values, and (d) methodology. In each area, parallels are drawn between the ethical issues facing family clinicians and those facing family researchers.