Abstract
M.Ed.
This study explores how card sorting facilitates career exploration and assessment within the context of career development and with an emphasis on the career constructivist theory. This study focuses on the experience of an adolescent in a secondary school environment and how card sorting facilitated his process of career exploration and assessment.
The research design was relied on a case study format, in which a career intervention with the aid of a card sorting technique in collaboration with a story book was explored. One adolescent participant and one care-giver participant were selected for this study. The adolescent participant was selected purposively.
The data was collected by means of semi-structured and unstructured interviews, observations and the researcher’s reflections. Data was analysed through means of content analysis.
A constructivist paradigm allowed the researcher to construct the self-concept and identity as the main themes in response to the research question and five sub-themes: (1) identity formation, (2) gaining insight into self, (3) uncertainty and conflict with self, (4) self-knowledge, and (5) self-acceptance.
It was found that the intervention in career counselling with the aid of card sorting can be used to facilitate career exploration and assessments as it allowed for the participant to engage actively in the process of meaning-making. This allowed for the participant to gain a deeper understanding of personal strengths and assets, which he was able to utilise within his process of career development.