Empirical Era

• Second era, mid-1920s through 1940s
• Era where career counseling became recognized as actual science, rather than just "vocational activities and intelligence testing"
• Union of Parson's vocational guidance and intelligence testing created by Binet
• During this time, a large number of personality and aptitude tests were created
• E.K. Strong (1927) - Strong Interest Inventory
• 1930s - Minnesota Ability Tests
• Minnesota Employment Stabilization Research Institute
• Formed in response to great financial depression during the time
• 1933 - Wagner Peyser Act creates United States Employment Service
• Studied careers and people that excelled in certain areas
• Army General Classification Test
• Used for personnel classification
• ~9 million men tested
• Problems created when testing such a large sample allowed for huge growth in the field of career testing
• Gave way to Trait and Factor Theory of the 1940s

• Trait and Factor Theory (https://youtu.be/Hxk6GCKUiZI)
• Describes traits rather than explaining them
• All individuals possess the same traits
• Divides traits into three categories (cardinal, central, & secondary)
• Modern career counselors use this to advise in future directions