The Implementation and Adoptability of Behavioral Skills Training in a Career Center

Author

Vinthia Wiryananda Wirantana, University of the PacificFollow

Date of Award

2018

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Carolynn S. Kohn

First Committee Member

Corey S. Stocco

Second Committee Member

John O'Neill

Abstract

It is unclear if staff at career centers use, or are willing to use, empirically-supported procedures like behavioral skills training (BST) when teaching interview skills to college students. The purpose of this study was to assess the extent to which the typical career center training consisted of BST, to evaluate staff-implemented BST, and to measure student performance as a result of both training. Using non-concurrent multiple baseline design, three staff were taught to use BST to teach three students to answer interview questions. First, staff used their typical training procedure, and then, they used BST to teach student interview skills; their use of BST steps was measured during training with students. Student performance was measured as percentage of appropriate answers provided during simulated interviews conducted with the experimenter after training. Results showed limited use of BST in staff’s typical training and increased use after BST training. One student improved after a typical career center training and two students showed improvement after staff-implemented BST. Social validity reports from staff showed acceptance for some steps, but not all. Limitations to this study included small selection of interview questions, time constraint, and self-reported social validity measures. Future studies can evaluate alternative methods of BST delivery including computerized BST.

Pages

79

Recommended Citation

Wirantana, Vinthia Wiryananda. (2018). The Implementation and Adoptability of Behavioral Skills Training in a Career Center. University of the Pacific, Thesis. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/3533