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CHAPTER 4:
WORK ADJUSTMENT THEORY
Most applicable to adults who wish to make career choices or are experiencing work adjustment
problems.
Consists of 18 propositions and corollaries which predict work adjustment.
Work Adjustment – a continuous and dynamic process by which a worker seeks to achieve and
maintain correspondence with a work environment. Work adjustment is indicated by length of
time, or tenure, on the job.
STEP 1 - ASSESSMENT ABILITIES, VALUES, PERSONALITY AND INTERESTS
Abilities: reference dimensions for skills (work skills), encompasses aptitudes, need assessment
statements of abilities in order to conceptualize a vast array of work skills.
To assess abilities, they used the GATB – incorporates abilities required for many jobs and
measures a broader base of abilities than many academic tests. (The Ability Profiler is
replacing the GATB and is similar to it.)
Values: represents a grouping of needs, the number of needs are fewer than skills.
To assess values and needs, they developed the Minnesota Importance Questionnaire (MIQ)
Achievement (making use of one’s abilities and having a sense of accomplishment) vs.
Comfort (non-stressful work environment)
Status (how one is perceived by others and the recognition one gets) vs.
Four characteristics of personality style:
celerity: speed with which one approaches tasks
pace: effort one spends in working
rhythm: the pattern of one’s effort or pace
STEP 2 – MEASURING THE REQUIREMENTS AND CONDITIONS OF OCCUPATIONS
There are methods to measure the abilities and values needed for many occupations. This is done
by averaging scores for people in various occupations on the GATB and MIQ.
Ability Patterns: important abilities that are required for a great variety of jobs.
Set of GATB ability requirements was developed for each occupation and cutoff scores were
STEP 3 - MATCHING ABILITIES, VALUES, AND REINFORCERS
When matching values and abilities with the Occupational Ability Patterns and Occupational
Reinforcer Patterns, the counselor can use (1) MIQ, (2) GATB, (3) MOCS
Adjustment Style: the degree of fit between person and the environment, how an individual relates
to the occupational environment.
Four qualities describe this fit:
JOB ADJUSTMENT COUNSELING
Work adjustment theory can be used to conceptualize the types of problems that someone can have
in adjusting to a job (i.e. their skills may not be fully developed for the job or may not be able to
ADJUSTMENT TO RETIREMENT
Try to find activities in a non-work environment that have the same abilities and reinforcers as the
person’s previous job.
APPLICATIONS TO GIFTED ADOLESCENTS
THE ROLE OF ASSESSMENT INSTRUMENTS
MIQ (Minnesota Importance Questionnaire)
The Importance Job Satisfaction Grid (p.113)
THE ROLE OF OCCUPATIONAL INFORMATION
Use of the Minnesota Occupational Classification System
APPLYING THE THEORY TO WOMEN AND CULTURALLY DIVERSE POPULATIONS
Focus on large differences within groups rather than small differences existing between groups.
COUNSELOR ISSUES
