Occupational information: a critical evaluation of printed occupational booklets in use in secondary schools.

Abstract

This work concentrated on part of the field of occupational information ion schools, the area of printed occupational literature, the most widely used of which is in booklet form. An attempt is made to evaluate a selection of such booklets by the use of a constructed Check List and accompanying Notes for Teachers. Consideration is given to factors influencing the composition of the Check List: the school setting within which it will be used, the user himself (the pupil), and the nature and significance of work to the pupil. Moving from a macro to a micro approach, the role of occupational information in school guidance is explored and criteria of evaluation for the content, appearance and readability of occupational booklets are determined. The construction of the Check List and accompanying Notes is then undertaken. An account of the selection of occupational booklets to be rated and the administration of the Check List to 30 experienced teachers follows. Results are described, analysed and discussed. As a corollary, an account is given of the administration of Close tests on the booklets selected to groups of G.C.E. and C.S.E. pupils. Problems revealed by the results, such as the inconsistency of codifiers, poor readability scores and the lack of psychosocial information, are considered. Finally, conclusions are drawn and suggestions put forward for the future.