The traditional strengths of the field of vocational psychology, that is, its theoretical and empirical traditions, are proposed to be important resources in the coming years. These strengths, if complemented by adoption of emerging theoretical perspectives (e.g., postmodern views) and research methods (e.g., qualitative methods and new statistical techniques), will allow vocational psychologists to speak to a broader and more diverse audience as well as to increase the relevance of their inquiries. In the process, I argue that the perennially problematic linkage between science and practice may be enhanced and both domains strengthened.
The daunting task of summarizing the status and future direction of the field of vocational psychology is also exciting. To make more manageable this analysis of the field’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats, I elected to comment on only a few areas that appear to me to be striking as hallmarks of the field. Thus, this is a very personal reaction to, and projection for, the rich discipline of vocational psychology.
In the end, my vision for the next decade is not a revolutionary one. Instead, as I have tried to illustrate with my references to extant literature, it seems to me that at least some vocational psychologists have identified already the issues critical to the continued health and growth of the field and pointed to resources that may be helpful with those issues. It is merely up to the rest of us to attend to and contribute to efforts to address those issues. As is so often the case, the answers to complex and seemingly overwhelming questions are present around us—if we look carefully and are willing to see them. Thus, the future of vocational psychology seems promising if vocational psychologists use their traditional strengths in research and theory to explore and tounderstand (and perhaps to resolve issues emergent from) the changing social landscape. The increasing diversity of the U.S. population along with the technologic and social press to think more globally challenge vocational psychologists to make their work relevant to a broader segment of the national and world population.We can no longer afford to avoid some of the thorny but important vocational issues related to social class and other status variables, the greater sociopolitical context, or societal changes (e.g., differences in opportunity structures and structural influences on vocational behavior).
Fortunately, concurrent with this need for the field to continue to evolve and to expand its mission, newperspectives and methods that may facilitate the needed transformations in vocational psychology have emerged already. New theoretical perspectives, new research paradigms and methods, and increasingly accessible communication with fellow scholars around the world provide an expanded set of tools and resources for vocational psychologists. Taking full advantage of them in conjunction with more informed use of the field’s traditional tools and strengths offers a means for vocational psychologists to meet the challenges of the next decade(s). Further, if the field continues to move toward greater inclusiveness in the questions
it poses, the individuals it studies, and the methods of inquiry it recognizes, it seems to me that the “natural interdependence” of science and practice discussed by Lucas (1996) may be fostered. For example, the questions of relevance to those less privileged in society often are very pragmatic ones (e.g., how to access opportunities and how to overcome barriers) and ones for which practitioners often are called upon for assistance. If vocational psychologists engaged in scientific endeavors can offer theory or knowledge that may aid in the provision of such services, and can present it in a manner accessible to practitioners, then attention to such information would seem to advance practitioners’ aims and to be in their self-interest. Clearly, intervention research in vocational psychology is a primary means by which to accomplish this goal. Similarly, if the relevance and viability of the science of vocational psychology are compromised by an overly narrow focus in theory and research, then broadening that focus through attention to practice-relevant topics would seem to advance scientists’ aims and to be in their self-interest. Happily, emergent theoretical perspectives and research methods seem well-suited to facilitate the task of broadening the focus of the science
of vocational psychology in the manner needed. In sum, although there are distinct challenges and potentially serious threats to the field of vocational psychology in the coming decade(s), it seems to me that the resources to meet these challenges and counter the threats are already available to us—the question that remains is whether we are willing to embrace them. If we are willing to do so, the future of vocational psychology seems as promising as has been its past.
