TPC Journal V8, Issue 1 - FULL ISSUE

66 The Professional Counselor | Volume 8, Issue 1 were established (i.e., continuous dependent variable; independent variables are categorical and related; no significant outliers; normally distributed sample). Thus, we used dependent samples t-tests to assess possible significance between participant pre- and post-assessment scores on the ProQOL, WVI, and OES-S. The dependent t-test was utilized to compare the same participants at two separate time intervals (Pallant, 2013). Results Work Values Inventory Four categories were explored via the WVI: (1) core values, (2) work environment, (3) work interactions, and (4) work activities. For the purpose of this investigation, the most valued and least valued work values were explored based on participants’ self-reported importance level, ranging from not important to always important . The three top-rated values for the pre-test results were: Balance ( M = 2.96, SD = .204), Support ( M = 3.00, SD = .000), and Helping ( M = 3.00, SD = .000). The three lowest-rated values were: Power ( M = 1.35, SD = .476), Competition ( M = 1.21, SD = .415), and Risk- Taking ( M = 1.42, SD = .583). For the post-test analysis, results were similar with Honesty ( M = 3.00, SD = .000), Support ( M = 2.96, SD = .204), and Helping ( M = 3.00, SD = .000). The three lowest-rated values in the post-test analysis were: Power ( M = 1.21, SD = .415), Competition ( M = 1.17, SD = .381), and Risk-Taking ( M = 1.46, SD = .658). A dependent samples t-test was used to explore possible significance between pre- and post- assessment in each value category (i.e., core, work interactions, work activities). For the top ranked core values (Balance and Honesty), we found no statistical significance: t (23) = -1.00; p = .328. For the lowest ranked core values (Power), we found t (23) = 1.27; p = .216. For the work interactions top ranked value (Support) we found t (23) = 1.00; p = .328, and for lowest ranked value (Competition), t (23) = .371; p = .714. Finally, for the work activities top value (Helping) we found no difference (values were the same pre- and post-assessment) and for the lowest reported value (Risk-Taking), t (23) = -.296; p = .770. The work environment category was not analyzed, as participant rankings were consistently toward the median and therefore did not make the top three highest or bottom three lowest self-reported scores. Occupational Engagement Scale To calculate a total score of the OES-S, the original items were recoded and summed, resulting in a range of possible scores from 0 (lowest possible occupational engagement) to 36 (highest possible occupational engagement). However, in looking at the combined averages between pre- and post- assessment, participant scores at pre- ( M = 23.79) and post-assessment ( M = 25.79) showed a statistically significant increase: t (23) = -2.519, p < .019. These results indicate that participants were moderately engaged and increased their engagement throughout the duration of the career counseling course. Professional Quality of Life A review of the measures of the results for the pre-test ProQOL (Stamm, 2010) and its scales indicates the participants reported moderate levels of Compassion Satisfaction and low levels of Burnout and Secondary Traumatic Stress (within the Compassion Fatigue realm). Specifically, the results for the pre-test were: (a) Burnout (10 items; M = 20.78, SD = 3.78), (b) Secondary Traumatic Stress (10 items; M = 21.14, SD = 4.14), and (c) Compassion Satisfaction (10 items; M = 41.10, SD = 5.26). The results for the post-test were: (a) Burnout (10 items; M = 20.15, SD = 3.86), (b) Secondary Traumatic Stress (10 items; M = 20.86, SD = 4.12), and (c) Compassion Satisfaction (10 items; M = 42.67, SD = 4.48).