I am a norwegian psychology-student writing a thesis on how to use
grid-methodology in vocational guidance. In this regard I have some
questions which I wondered if anyone of you had any thoughts about.
I will try to compare the advantages/disadvantages of using the grid-method
in vocational guiding compared to a standardized interest inventory based on
J. L. Hollands theory of occupational personality types.To elicit grids, I
will use Finn Tschudis Flexigrid (a pc-based method for eliciting and
analyzing grids) and I have thought of using occupational titles as elements.
Often the counsellors job is to help the clients become more aware of their
"selves", their vocational interests, values etc. making it easier for the
clients to make a decision between different occupational alternatives. This
is comparable to therapy, where one uses gridmethodology to help clients
become more aware of how they think, behave etc., and this awareness can
better help them to manage their problem. If one thinks of this as a change
in the clients thought processes, the question is how one best can initiate
this kind of change.
One procedure is just to present and interpret the grid-results for the
client, and hope that in some way this makes the person become more aware of
her/his values, interests, thoughts etc. so that change occurs. Another way
is to also suggest experiments the clients can undertake to get some new
experience, and in that way facilitate changes in the clients construct
system. These new experiences may make the person more aware, and thus maybe
make it easier for the client to make a decision about the problem. Any
suggested guidelines for this more audacious enterprise?
My questions are then:
1) How can one use grids in the most useful way to initiate change, and why
does it initiate change?
2) How to establish whether the grid method may be superior to ordinary
interviews done by a competent therapist? What specifically can it provide
which is difficult to get at with other methods?
I would appreciate any thoughts about these topics and references to any
relevant literature!
Sincerely, Hallvard Follesdal
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