A Content Analysis of Career Development Theory, Research, and Practice-2013

• Published in: The Career development quarterly Vol. 62; no. 4; pp. 290 - 326
• Main Authors: Sampson Jr, James P., Hou, Pei-Chun, Kronholz, Julia F., Dozier, V. Casey, McClain, Mary-Catherine, Buzzetta, Mary, Pawley, Elizabeth K., Finklea, Jane T., Peterson, Gary W., Lenz, Janet G., Reardon, Robert C., Osborn, Debra S., Hayden, Seth C. W., Colvin, Gloria P., Kennelly, Emily L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Alexandria Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2014
• Subjects: Career counseling; Career Development; career development literature; Career development planning; Careers; Content analysis; Counseling; practice; Secondary School Students; Sexual orientation; Theory; Trends
• ISSN: 0889-4019; 2161-0045
• DOI: 10.1002/j.2161-0045.2014.00085.x

This annual review of the career counseling and development literature presents a content analysis of refereed journal articles published in 2013. Four research questions guided the analysis: (a) What content topics were included in career development articles published in refereed journals in 2013? (b) To what extent are theory, research, and practice integrated in career development articles published in refereed journals in 2013? (c) What variation exists in the characteristics of career development articles published in refereed journals in 2013? and (d) What variation exists in the content included in theory, research, and practice articles? A total of 360 unique topics were identified in 357 articles from 24 journals. Results indicated that topic content in journals evolved slowly with limited integration of theory, research, and practice. Implications are suggested for (a) future topic content; (b) better integration of theory, research, and practice; (c) education and training; (d) journal editorial policy; and (e) future content analyses of journal articles.