ERIC Number: EJ987043
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011
Pages: 14
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Training Needs Assessment and Competence Measure: An Exploratory Factor Analysis
Kundu, Madan M.; Dutta, Alo; Chan, Fong; Torres, Viviana; Fleming, Kayla
Rehabilitation Research, Policy, and Education, v25 n3-4 p113-126 2011
Purpose: To validate an 80-item self-report measure, A Systems Approach to Placement: Self-Assessment for Students and Counselors (SAP-SASC), designed to identify critical areas of knowledge, skills, and competencies possessed by rehabilitation counselors in state vocational rehabilitation (VR) agency settings. Participants: 275 rehabilitation counselors from state VR agencies in Louisiana, Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and tribal VR in Oklahoma participated in this study. Method: Descriptive statistics and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were utilized to validate the factorial structure of the SAP-SASC. Results: EFA revealed a six-factor solution comprising professional competence related to the following subsystems: employer, health and education, client, social and contextual, funding, and placement personnel. The internal consistency reliability coefficients for the six sub-scales range from 0.90 to 0.96. Counselors in this study rated themselves as having high competence in addressing direct job placement, formal education/skills enhancement, and family related needs impacting delivery of VR services. Conclusion: The SAP-SASC provides a useful measure of professional competencies required for VR practices. The six key competence areas of the instrument are essential for the provision of quality VR services. (Contains 2 tables.)
Descriptors: Factor Analysis, Rehabilitation Counseling, Vocational Rehabilitation, Needs Assessment, Counselor Training, Outcome Measures, Competency Based Education, Self Disclosure (Individuals), Test Items, Program Validation, Factor Structure, Item Analysis, Systems Approach, Job Placement, Accessibility (for Disabled), Counselor Evaluation, Counselor Performance, Counselor Qualifications, Educational Needs
National Council on Rehabilitation Education. 1099 East Champlain Drive Suite A PMB Number 137, Fresno, CA 93720; Tel: 559-906-0787; Fax: 559-412-2550; e-mail: info@ncre.org; Web site: http://www.ncre.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: American Samoa; Guam; Louisiana; Oklahoma; Puerto Rico
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A