System of Interactive Guidance Information

History

Donald Super, David Tiedeman, and Martin Katz explored early ideas about computer use in career development in the 1950s and 1960s. SIGI is a computer program that was developed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) based on Martin Katz's career decision-making theory and was originally released in 1970. SIGI was one of the first computer products of its kind. When ETS introduced SIGI in 1970, the company offered computerized career information and guidance to community colleges, 4-year colleges, and universities across the United States.

During the mid-1980s, SIGI became SIGI PLUS when it was reprogrammed for microcomputers and other enhancements were added. The program was modified for use with Microsoft Windows in 1996, and in 2001 ETS developed the first Web-based version. ETS upgraded and enhanced SIGI over the years, and SIGI PLUS operated both on the Internet and on personal computers.

Valpar International has been creating and marketing vocational assessment instruments since 1973. In July of 2004, Valpar acquired SIGI PLUS from ETS in order to expand its selection of career exploration software. On May 30, 2005, Valpar replaced the Internet version of SIGI PLUS with SIGI3, which is a revision of SIGI PLUS that has been updated and expanded. SIGI3 is a Web-based version of SIGI PLUS that maintains the content and philosophy of the older version, but it provides a more updated and efficient interface. Features of SIGI PLUS remain or have been enhanced, and navigating the software has been made easier. Valpar will be adding features such as a new look to the screens, a more intuitive user interface, improved navigation, expanded occupational database, enhanced student portfolio, management reports, additional assessments such as a personality trait survey, video library, publicity kit, and other changes, but Valpar will not change the values-based career exploration foundation of SIGI PLUS.

Review of the SIGI Literature

SIGI PLUS quickly became one of the leading three career guidance systems on the market in terms of sales and popularity. However, research supporting the effectiveness of SIGI, SIGI PLUS, SIGI3, and other CACGSs is relatively scant. These interventions have been utilized with numerous career clients, despite having relatively little research support for their efficacy. Approximately 22 citations related to either SIGI or SIGI PLUS can be found. No recent or research articles on SIGI3 were found on Valpar's Web site or elsewhere.

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