Effect of Career Counseling on Enhancement of cognitive Map of Occupations in Mentally Retarded Students (boy and girl) in Pre-Professional Stage in Isfahan City

Mental retardation children are different in intellectual, physical, emotional and behavior aspects with their peers and thus need to contribution and training for actualizing their potential talents. The purpose of this study was to examine career counseling on cognitive map of occupations in mentally retarded students (boys and girls). Method: This study was an experimental research by using pre-test and post-test with control group. The study population included all students 13 to 18 years (grade I, II, III). These students were enrolled in 2011-2012 of pre-professional stage in Isfahan city. To select sample (43 students) between all of professional schools of Isfahan city, 2schools were selected by multistage cluster sampling. Data collection tool was questionnaire of occupational and cognitive map (for elementary children) which was made by the researchers so children responded it. Descriptive and inferential statistics by SPSS 17version were used to analyze data. Results: Data analysis by covariance method has been showed that teaching of career counseling significantly increased average scores on cognitive map of occupations students in experimental group in comparison with control group. Also results showed that there is a significant difference between cognitive maps of boys and girls before job training, also boys have cognitive map of occupations more than girls, training intervention increased number of jobs, and developed cognitive map. Conclusion: By results of this study can be said job training interventions increase number of jobs based on prestige and cognitive map