Synonyms
Occupational assessment; Vocational evaluation; Vocational testing
Definition
In the context of neuropsychology settings, Vocational Assessment refers to evaluations conducted for the purpose of informing employment issues (e.g., ability to return to work, appropriateness to continue working, recommended compensatory strategies, etc.). Such evaluations typically assess multiple domains, including cognition, behavioral functioning, sensory-motor skills, and emotional functioning (Kay and Silver 1988). In other settings, such as career counseling, vocational assessment may refer to evaluations conducted for the purpose of providing career advice, such as suggesting a field of work in which to pursue employment based on vocational and lifestyle interests.
Current Knowledge
Vocational assessments are a common reason for neuropsychological referrals (Guilmette et al. 1990); they require a shift in emphasis from a “traditional” diagnostic interpretation to a focus on the vocational...
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References and Readings
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Johnstone, B., Wellman, J., Allen, B.J. (2018). Vocational Assessment. In: Kreutzer, J.S., DeLuca, J., Caplan, B. (eds) Encyclopedia of Clinical Neuropsychology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_2001
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-57111-9_2001
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