ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the use of vocational card sorts in career counseling and career exploration. The chapter begins by examining briefly the status of career counseling in counseling psychology. The exploration of this issue presents an important backdrop for the chapter, and it emphasizes how the card sort technique may provide at least a partial response to some of the current concerns that seem relevant and somewhat troubling to career counseling. After the introductory exploration of these concerns, the background and development of the vocational card sorts are explored. Available card sorts are briefly reviewed. Then the use of the card sort technique with clients is examined, a description of its administration is provided, and a discussion of some of its effects on clients is presented. A case example is included. Finally the available research is reviewed, the card sort technique is evaluated, and future directions for development and research are explored.
