Qualitative Evaluation Methods Applied to a High School Counseling Center

The authors present a case study demonstrating how qualitative techniques can be used to evaluate a high school counseling and guidance program.     

Religious Attributions of Responsibility: A Review of Empirical Literature and Development of an Instrument

A critical review of the religious attribution literature is presented. Two overriding critiques are that the field lacks adequate instruments to measure religious attributions, and that attributions related to problem cause are confused with attributions about problem solution. Consequently, an instrument was developed to measure religious attributions of responsibility for problem cause and solution. An exploratory, principal-axis factor analysis conducted on data generated by 457 university students revealed the theorized factors of cause and solution. High internal consistency and test—retest reliability were obtained. A subsequent confirmatory factor analysis on a separate sample of 179 students provided evidence of construct validity for the instrument. Research questions are presented that would advance current understanding of religious attributions, and limitations of the instrument are noted.     

METHODOLOGICAL AND PSYCHOMETRIC ISSUES IN SETTING CUTOFF SCORES USING THE ANGOFF METHOD

The present study examined several psychometric issues relevant to the use of a favored technique (the Angoff method) used to set standards in criterion referenced testing. The research was conducted within a setting which allowed (a) confident identification of expert and non-expert judges, and (b) estimation of "true" scores for items judged so that accuracy of judgments in addition to reliability could be examined. Results suggested that expertise of judges does make a difference in producing more accurate and reliable data, underscoring the importance of using true subject matter experts (SMEs) in the judgment process. A rater analysis technique (rater-total correlations) was illustrated, which might prove useful in improving the quality of data obtained using the Angoff method, particularly when there is some question regarding the internal consistency of ratings and expertise of some of the raters. Finally, a rater accuracy adjustment/calibration technique was examined and proved to be a potentially useful method to maximize accuracy of a standard derived using the Angoff method in settings where archival normative test data can be obtained. Other methods that could potentially be used to improve Angoff data were discussed.     

Provision for and Promise of Counseling and Guidance Components Within the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act

As president-elect of NECA, I am a member of an APGA task force, along with representatives from ASCA and NVGA, that is dealing with our professional concerns in the implementation of PL 93–203, CETA. This task force met in November 1976 at Lake Tahoe, Nev. We formulated the following statements and questions that have been addressed to appropriate Congressional committees as they meet to consider CETA renewal or to develop the need to justify oversight hearings.     

Touchstones to Power

In this article the author offers an analogy to stress the benefits derived from interorganizational relationships formed within an association of organizations. Concomitantly, he comments on the consequences of abstention from such affiliations. The organizations in question are, of course, NECA and APGA.     

Group Employment Counseling Training in Canada

This article outlines the views of the author regarding group training of employment counselors in Canada. The current group training program for employment counselors and the accompanying packages are discussed.