making decisions about others

Many of the most important decisions influencing pathways at school and work are made about, but not by, students and employees. Guidance and career counselors, admissions officers and hiring committees are among the many parties whose judgements determine what opportunities are available to which people, and at what times. Pathways researchers leverage insight on evaluation from a wide variety of social-science fields and apply them to their own studies of critical moments in educational and occupational sequences.