The cultural context of career assessment

In this article, we propose that the major challenge facing career assessme nt scholars and practitioners in the 21st century is the need to affirm cul tural diversity. Beginning with a discussion of social constructionist theo ry, we suggest that existing career assessment practice needs to embrace th e "local" realities that exist within diverse cultural contexts. We then pr esent the unificationist perspective as a conceptual lens with which to con sider career assessment. Building on the need for psychometric tools that c an address the changing cultural context of career assessment, we also adva nce generalizability and item response theories as viable approaches to dev eloping culturally affirming measures and practice standards for diverse cl ients. The article concludes with an integrative view of how these conceptu al and methodological tools can enhance career assessment in the 21st centu ry.