1.0 Career Counseling

Most career counseling is based on the client's past achievement, current interests, and/or general intelligence. Past achievement is, for obvious reasons, not a very good predictor for change. Current interests constitute a limited guide to change because they are not coupled with the abilities necessary to effect change. And general intelligence is too general to be predictive of success in most practical contexts.

The SOI approach is different. A student or client is tested with the SOI-LA test, form CR. A cognitive profile is derived from the testing. This profile is matched against the cognitive demands of different career categories. If the student or client falls short of the cognitive demands of a desired career, SOI offers training to develop the necessary abilities to the required level.

2.0 SOI Assessments in Career Counseling

All SOI tests are based on Guilford's Structure of Intellect which identified 90 different intellectual abilities. Each SOI assessment tests a selected subset of the 90 abilities identified in the Structure of Intellect model. The subsets differ according to purpose of the assessment and the developmental level of the test taker.

Retraining programs fail for a significant number of clients. In most cases the failures are due to what the clients bring to the retraining. Most of the clients are not academic by nature-they are not ready to learn-they lack learning abilities. SOI tells which learning abilities need development in order for retraining to be optimized. SOI training is the means.

SOI in Retraining.
Many clients who are offered retraining programs lack the learning abilities to benefit from the training being offered to them. SOI tests provide a means of determining which undeveloped learning abilities are preventing them from benefiting. The SOI tests provide a profile of learning abilities that can be matched against the demands of the retraining program, and can also be matched to the requirements of different jobs. SOI Training Modules are available to develop those abilities that are limiting the benefits of the retraining program.

SOI Test of Learning Abilities, Form CR
Group administered assessment. Groups can be classroom size (except for unusual populations). Also administered individually or in a family group by a SOI practitioner.

• Provides a learning profile of twenty-four separate learning abilities.
• Evaluation of test results provides a specific plan for improving learning abilities. (See SOI Training Modules).
• Total time for administration-three and one-half hours. Administration can be broken up into segments to fit class schedules. In clinical use the test is usually administered in one sitting with two or three breaks.
• Tests are consumable. Requires a manual for administration.
• Available in English and Spanish.
• Scoring services and computer analysis of results are available. Computer analysis is available in Spanish as well as English.
• The multi-faceted nature of the test is particular good for diverse populations.
• Has been used in secondary schools, returning programs, corrections, and welfare-to-work programs.
• Computer analysis provides a match between the client's profile and the learning abilities profiles of job families. Analysis also provides a training program (using SOI Training Modules) for clients to prepare themselves for entry into job training or general education.