We present the PreferenSort, a career counseling instrument that derives counselees' vocational interests from their preferences among occupational titles. The PreferenSort allows for a holistic decision process, while taking into account the full complexity of occupations and encouraging deliberation about one's preferences and acceptable…

Discusses general issues and concerns relative to the adaptation of paper-pencil assessment instruments to computerized formats. Describes and evaluates Self-Directed Search computerized version (SDS-CV). Presents strengths and weaknesses of the SDS-CV and makes recommendations for its use. (Author/ABL)

This comparative study examined the degree of similarity between the results of the Self-Directed Search and an online career assessment. Implications for career counselors, based on the results, are briefly discussed.

Holland's (1973) theory of vocational choice proposes a typology of, and a match between, people and occupations. The Self Directed Search (SDS) can be used to assess people's occupational orientation types. To assess the construct validity of Holland's theory of occupational preferences, 171 female industrial workers participated in a study,…

The author briefly discusses the results of Holland's Self-Directed Search (SDS), taken by 20 writers, as supportive of the validity of the SDS as a vocational guidance instrument. (RP)

The validity of some theoretically derived vocational diagnostic signs was examined to learn if a person's self-knowledge, occupational knowledge, and decision-making ability were predictable. The positive results imply some practical applications and the need for further theoretical investigation. (Author)

Discriminant analysis of Holland's Self Directed Search and Vocational Preference Inventory significantly improved the predictive validity of his classification scheme, over the traditional method of assigning high point codes. These results were obtained with both an initial and a replication sample of undergraduates pursuing various degrees. The…

This study examined the effects of the test administrator's attitudes toward Holland's Self-Directed Search, the size of the group taking the instrument, and whether or not monitors were used during the administration on both self-scoring accuracy and satisfaction with results. Only monitoring reduced self-scoring errors, and none affected…

In response to criticisms of the sex bias/fairness of career inventories, new guidelines, modifications to existing inventories, and new inventories have been developed. The occupational card sort, Occu-Sort (O-S), was administered to junior and senior high school students from suburban and urban communities to assess its effectiveness in…

Proposes a measure to evaluate the agreement between Holland's Self-Directed Search (SDS) and occupational preference with students (N=42) seeking vocational guidance. Results showed that the proposed index of agreement is applicable to the SDS and to any situation where ranked (ordinal) data is partially recorded. (LLL)

Investigated the predictive efficiency of Holland's Self-Directed Search. In 1974, 126 vocationally undecided high school seniors were asked to express a career choice or indecision. A 1978 survey showed only 27 percent chose a career area not predicted by their 1974 SDS results. (Author)

Concern on how interest inventories are being used in career counseling and other preventive interventions has resulted in heightened sensitivity to the impact of interest inventories and the emergence of the concept exploration validity. Various aspects of exploration validity were assessed using three different interest inventories. The…

The psychological meaning and predictive value of a person's vocational aspirations were examined by applying Holland's typology to the vocational aspirations of high school juniors (N=1,005), college juniors (N=692), employed adults (N=140), and a second sample of college students studied over a 1 year interval (N=624). The aspirational data were…

Describes correlational analyses between Self-Directed Search (SDS) and the second edition of the Occupational Aptitude Survey and Interest Schedule (OASIS-2). Scales generally correlate significantly at an acceptable level for establishing criterion-related validity. Implications for practitioners using the OASIS-2 are discussed. Includes 26…

The impact of an occupational card sort, the Occu-Sort (O-S), on the thoughts and activities of rural, suburban, and urban junior/senior high school students was assessed to determine the sex bias/fairness of that card sort as a career interest inventory, as well as the reliability and validity of the occupational code structure. Participants were…