Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin current issue

The Relationship Between a Counselor's Education and Experience and the Time Spent on Tasks

Lustig, D. C., Strauser, D. R. — 2008-07-02

The purpose of the current study was to examine the relationship between perceived percentage of time spent on rehabilitation counseling responsibilities and the possession of an educational degree, certification as a rehabilitation counselor, and years worked for a state or federal vocational rehabilitation agency. A national study was conducted of 483 vocational rehabilitation counselors in state and federal vocational rehabilitation agencies. The results provide evidence that there is little difference in the perceived percentage of time spent on work activities with respect to degree type, certification as a rehabilitation counselor, or years worked for a state or federal agency. Implications for rehabilitation counselors working for a state or federal agency are discussed.

Dimensionality of the Contact With Disabled Persons Scale: Results From Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analyses

Pruett, S. R., Lee, E.-J., Chan, F., Ming Hung Wang, , Lane, F. J. — 2008-07-02

The purpose of this study was to examine the dimensionality of the Contact With Disabled Persons Scale (CDP). An exploratory factor analysis of the CDP yielded three factors: General Interpersonal Contacts, Positive Contact Experiences, and Negative Contact Experiences. A confirmatory factor analysis provided further evidence for the stability and generalizability of this three-factor solution. The CDP factors were also analyzed in the predicted directions, with several attitude measures, other psychosocial instruments, and a set of demographic variables. A discussion of how this scale can be used in attitudes toward disability research is provided.

Confirmatory Factor Analysis of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire--Brief Version for Individuals With Spinal Cord Injury

Miller, S. M., Chan, F., Ferrin, J. M., Lin, C.-P., Chan, J. Y. C. — 2008-07-02

This study examined the factorial structure of the World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire—Brief Version in a community sample of Canadians with spinal cord injuries. A confirmatory factor analysis provides evidence that the instrument is a multidimensional measure of quality of life. Additionally, the questionnaire is correlated in the predicted directions with education, income, time since injury, self-esteem, and acceptance of disability. Implications of its use in rehabilitation counseling practice and research are discussed.

Factors Influencing Asian Indian Graduate Students' Attitudes Toward People With Disabilities: A Conjoint Analysis

Parashar, D., Chan, F., Leierer, S. — 2008-07-02

Asian Indians are one of the fastest-growing immigrant groups in the United States, yet little is known about their attitudes toward persons with disabilities and rehabilitation. The purpose of this study was to examine factors influencing Asian Indian students' attitudes toward people with disabilities, using a conjoint analysis design (N = 90). The design used a conjoint measurement where the variables included disability type, gender, age, education, and employment status. The results indicate that disability type was most heavily involved in the decision-making process, that attitude and preference formation were significantly affected by characteristics other than disability type, and that students' previous contact with people with disabilities affected the relative importance of disability type and age in attitudes and preference formation. The findings of this study are similar to those of conjoint analysis studies of other Asian and American students. Implications for rehabilitation counseling practices with Asian Indian Americans are discussed.

Future Concerns of Adult Siblings of Persons With Traumatic Brain Injury

Degeneffe, C. E., Olney, M. F. — 2008-07-02

This study examined future concerns conveyed by adult siblings who provided regular caregiving support to their brothers and sisters with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The authors surveyed a national sample of 280 adult siblings of persons with TBI. Using a constant comparative approach to text analysis, the authors analyzed responses to the question "What are your concerns regarding the future for your sibling with TBI?" Common themes of such concerns were related to the caregiving siblings' roles as future caregivers and their perceptions of the quality of professional care provided to their injured family members. Also, participants endorsed concerns for their injured siblings' independence, recovery, and relationships with family and friends. Clinical, advocacy, and research implications of these findings are discussed.

Rasch Analysis as a Technique to Examine the Psychometric Properties of a Career Ability Placement Survey Subtest

2008-07-02

Rasch analysis offers researchers an innovative method for developing and validating rehabilitation instruments. Despite the increased use of Rasch analysis by allied health researchers, this method continues to be underutilized by rehabilitation counseling professionals. In the rehabilitation counseling profession, vocational evaluators use various instruments, such as the Career Ability Placement Survey (CAPS), to determine client aptitudes and justify job placement recommendations. The purpose of this article is to introduce Rasch analysis as a method for analyzing vocational assessments by examining the psychometric properties of the Word Knowledge (WK) subtest of the CAPS. University undergraduate and graduate students (n = 227) completed the WK subtest as part of a classroom exercise. The analysis determined item hierarchy, item gaps and redundancies, item-fit statistics (unidimensionality), and person reliability and separation statistics. Although the WK construct demonstrates good psychometric characteristics relating to unidimensionality and to person reliability and separation statistics, several items deviated from the expected ordering pattern. The reordering of items revealed potential item gaps and redundancies as well as poor person—instrument match. Adding and removing items will improve the validity and reliability of the WK subtest psychometrics.

Book Review: Morgan, O. J. (Ed.) (2007). Counseling and Spirituality: Views From the Profession. Boston: Lahaska Press. 259 pages, $57.96 (softcover)

Graf, N. M. — 2008-07-02

Continuing Education Answer Sheet For Volume 51, No 4

2008-07-02

Continuing Education Questions: July 2008 -- Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin

2008-07-02