The effect of an Internet-based career exploration strategy on the abilities of students with emotional disturbance to find, organize, and communicate information about career interests

Post-secondary outcome data indicate that participation in career-focused instruction significantly improves employment outcomes for students with emotional disturbance (ED). However, participation rates of students with ED in career-focused instruction remain low, in large part because few individuals with ED participate in career exploration activities. The following study assessed the efficacy of an Internet-based career exploration strategy designed to assist secondary students with ED to find, organize, and communicate information about career interests. A single-subject multiple baseline across subjects design was used to measure the effects of the C-PATH strategy on the ability of students with ED to (a) conduct a focused search for information on the Internet; (b) evaluate and summarize information gathered from the Internet; and (c) verbally communicate career interests. Results indicated that an Internet-based career exploration strategy can assist students with ED to find information related to their career interests, however further investigation is needed to support the pairing of learning strategies with Internet-based instruction and the validation of research practices that support Internet-based research.