Computer-Assisted Career Guidance: A National Perspective on the Use of DISCOVER and SIGI.

The article focuses on the Computer Assisted Career Guidance (CACG) systems in terms of services provided, staffing, management, and implementation. These systems enhance both the acquisition of career information and the process of career decision-making. There are basically two types of CACG systems, DISCOVER and System of Interactive Guidance and Information (SIGI) throughout the United States. These systems were chosen for two basic reasons. First, previous research focused on information-type CACG systems. Second, guidance and information type systems differ in content and purpose. Nine research questions were used to investigate the two guidance type (CACG) systems. The respondents were institutional contact persons from American College Testing program. The survey yielded 65% response rate. Results indicated that distribution of SIGI was greater in post secondary education. The advantage of this approach includes the proximity to other supporting career information resources and the availability of counselors and other staff members who are familiar with career interventions. The CACG systems have certain advantages. First the integration of traditional and computer- assisted interventions reduces the likelihood of persons viewing the computer as a magical answer to career decision-making. Secondly, such integrations enhance the opportunity of counselors to conduct introductory and follow up activities to ensure appropriate client use of resources.