An Empirical Investigation of Narrative Competency: Effects of an Image-based Intervention on Interview Anxiety and Performance

There exists a prevalent assumption that human beings are natural storytellers in narrative career counselling. This research program challenges this assumption in a series of empirical studies on interview storytelling. Additionally, this investigation employed image-supported narrative preparation to improve interview anxiety and performance, as a matter of concern in vocational rehabilitation and career guidance. The research process consisted of one systematic review, two case studies, and four experimental and quasi-experimental studies, the last of which explicated the effect mechanism using construal level theory. The systematic review revealed the gaps and potential of visual narrative interventions and informed the design of a brief intervention‒serious storytelling with images (SSWI). SSWI integrated past-behaviour interview skills training and image-supported storytelling for interview preparation. It was trialled in two case studies on participants with anxiety disorders. Upon confirming participants’ perceived benefits and low participation burden, four studies using a mix of double-blind randomised control trials and repeated measures ensued. They examined narrative competency, including interview narrative quantity, quality, anxiety, and performance. Primary covariates included SSWI, training, practice, generalised anxiety, prior interview anxiety experience, career information literacy, assessor, and assessor-perceived anxiety. Other covariates included age, gender, paid work experience, prior interview experience, and plan to work. The findings confirmed SSWI as the most significant predictor of performance, with construal level theory significant in explaining the effect mechanism. Collectively, the studies caution against assuming narrative competency. Training is necessary; intervention is required to optimise training