An Introduction to Cognitive Information Processing Theory, Research, and Practice

Abstract

The primary purpose of this paper is to introduce essential elements of cognitive information processing (CIP) theory, research, and practice as they existed at the time of this writing. The introduction that follows describes the nature of career choices and career interventions, and the integration of theory, research, and practice. After the introduction, the paper continues with three main sections that include CIP theory related to vocational behavior, research related to vocational behavior and career intervention, and CIP theory related to career interventions. The first main section describes CIP theory, including the evolution of CIP theory, the nature of career problems, theoretical assumptions, the pyramid of information processing domains, the CASVE Cycle, and the use of the pyramid and CASVE cycle. The second main section describes CIP theory-based research in examining vocational behavior and establishing evidence-based practice for CIP theory-based career interventions. The third main section describes CIP theory related to career intervention practice, including theoretical assumptions, readiness for career decision making, readiness for career intervention, the differentiated service delivery model, and critical ingredients of career interventions. The paper concludes with regularly updated sources of information on CIP theory.

Career practitioners’ response to career development concerns in the time of COVID‐19

“…Cognitive information processing theory (CIP; Sampson et al., 2020 ) aims to help individuals through the career decision‐making process and may have useful applications for helping individuals with career decision‐making in the current pandemic due to research supporting its use with a variety of individuals (e.g., college students, veterans, unemployed, and people with disabilities) and on issues such as initial career choice, career indecision, career transition, dysfunctional career thoughts, and mental health related to career concerns. CIP identifies four elements required for making an informed career decision, including the knowledge domain which consists of self and options knowledge, the decision‐making domain which ideally is comprised of an effective career decision‐making and problem‐solving approach (i.e., in CIP theory, known as the CASVE Cycle), and the executive processing domain, which consists of how an individual manages the process of addressing their career concern, and includes awareness of and ability to control self‐talk that might impede the process.…”

“…As capability and complexity intersect, four possible categories of career readiness emerge: someone who is low in both, high in both, high capability but low complexity, and low capability and high complexity. To effectively address different client decision‐making readiness levels, a differentiated career service model is recommended (Sampson et al., 2020 , Sampson, 2008 ; Toh & Sampson, 2019 ).…”

Conceptualizing COVID‐19‐Related Career Concerns Using Bioecological Systems: Implications for Career Practice

“…This section outlines three specific focus areas for career professionals that help operationalize a bioecological approach. This approach synthesizes information from four contemporary career perspectives: social cognitive career theory (SCCT; Lent, 2020 ; Lent & Brown, 2019 ), cognitive information processing (CIP; Sampson et al, 2020 ), chaos theory of careers (CTC; Bright & Pryor, 2019 ; Pryor & Bright, 2018 ), and psychology of working theory (PWT; Blustein & Duffy, 2020 ; Blustein et al, 2019 ). Table 1 elaborates on how to apply these approaches within an ecological systems framework.…”

“…CIP theory (Sampson et al, 2020 ) emphasizes the importance of self‐knowledge and information‐processing skills that influence how a person makes decisions related to their career. CIP researchers have identified associations between lower levels of career readiness and anxiety and depression (Osborn et al, 2016 ) and between worry and career indecision (Hayden & Osborn, 2020 ).…”

“…Mental health constructs are inherently embedded in CIP theory (Sampson et al, 2020 ) as a cognitively based approach. CIP's executive processing domain emphasizes that self‐talk can have protective or harmful effects (Sampson et al, 1996a , 1996b ).…”