1. Application of theory to practice Case Study One
Using theory to understand Rosie’s ‘career’

2. A series of theoretical questions………..

3. Question 1 (Holland’s RIASEC typology):
How do Rosie’s job ideas ‘fit’ with Holland’s
personality types?
Realistic
Investigative
Artistic
Social
Enterprising
Conventional
b) Suggest a threefold combination, e.g. RES, SEC, etc.

4. Question 2 (Super’s ‘Life-Span Stages’):
a) What stage of development does Rosie appear to be in?
Growth (curiosity, fantasy, interests, capacities)
Exploration (crystallizing, specifying, implementing)
Establishment (stabilizing, consolidating, advancing)
Maintenance
Disengagement
b) How might Rosie be helped to engage with the next
stage of development?

5. Question 3 (Super’s ‘Life-Space Roles’):
a) What roles appear to be evident in Rosie’s life?
Student
Leisurite
Citizen
Worker
Homemaker
Child
b) How do Rosie’s life-space roles relate to her career
ideas?

6. Question 4 (Super’s self-concept theory):
a) How does Rosie visualise herself in the context of work?
b) Give some specific examples of what she sees herself
doing in a particular work situation.

7. Question 5 (Law’s ‘Community Interaction Theory’):
a) Who are the members of Rosie’s ‘community’?
b) How is Rosie’s community influencing her in terms of:
i) Expectations (e.g. via the values of peer groups/ family)
ii) Feedback (e.g. received via participation in groups)
iii) Support (e.g. encouragement from group members)
iv) Modelling (e.g. identifying with a particular person
within/outwith the group)
v) Information (e.g. via day-to-day conversations
& observations)

8. Question 6 (Cochran’s & Savickas’ ‘Narrative’ approach):
a) What themes are evident in Rosie’s ‘Life-History’?
b) What stories does Rosie tell of her life?
c) Are there any incomplete stories?
d) Are there any untold stories?
e) Are there any role-models evident in Rosie’s life history?
f) What is pre-occupying Rosie’s thoughts and feelings?
How does this occupy her time?

9. Question 7 (Krumboltz’s ‘Social Learning Theory’):
How has Rosie ‘learnt’ her career?
Consider this question in relation to:
i) Instrumental learning experiences
ii) Associative learning experiences (direct/ indirect)
iii) Self-observed generalisations
iv) World view generalisations
(iii & iv relate to what Rosie believes to be true about herself and the working world)

10. Once you have applied the seven theoretical questions to gain an understanding of Rosie’s career, consider how you might use such an
understanding to help Rosie develop her career.