Based on the standard error of measurement, Holland (1985) suggested the "rule of eight" for determining the meaningfulness of differences between two summary scores on the Self Directed Search. The present study empirically examined the rule's validity for practice. The participants were 2397 (1497 females and 900 males) undergraduate…

A career interest inventory, the Chinese Career Key (CCK) adapted from the Career Key based on Holland's theory of vocational choice, was studied. The purpose of the study was to further examine the psychometric qualities and user satisfaction of the CCK by comparing it to the Self-Directed Search. Students at a girls' public high school (N = 130)…

This study, using the Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI) and the Self-Directed Search (SDS), explored concurrent validity of Holland's theory for employed non-college-degreed women (N=114). Results revealed three scales of the VPI and five scales of the SDS successfully differentiated occupational groups consistent with Holland's theoretical…

Examined validity of self-estimates of ability on a vocational interest measure (Self-Directed Search). Correlated self-ratings of 149 female undergraduates with well-validated measures of abilities corresponding to each of Holland's six interest domains. Found higher correlations between self-ratings of abilities and objective measures than for…

The realistic competency and activity scales of the Self-Directed Search were revised to learn if women's scores on these scales could be increased without reducing their concurrent and construct validity for men and women. Results indicate the revisions increase women's realistic scores, but fail to affect their high point codes. (Author)

This study, using the Vocational Preference Inventory and the Self-Directed Search, explored the concurrent validity of Holland's theory for employed college-degreed Black women. The findings support the validity of Holland's theory for this population. (Author)

Examined validity data for 50 criterion groups (N=9,256) to determine which reporting procedure, i.e., raw scores or normed scores, provided better agreement between the occupations pursued by the criterion group members and their predominant interests. Analyses suggested that normed scores were more valid than raw scores. (RC)

The scales of the Self-Directed Search (SDS) were correlated with the scales of the Armed Forces Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) for a sample of 192 high school girls. The two devices have small to moderate correlations that indicate self-reported abilities and competencies have some concurrent validity. (Author)

Holland's Self-Directed Search (SDS) protocols were used with at-risk Hispanic female and male adolescents were examined to determine their sensitivity to this population. The SDS was completed by 89 at-risk Hispanic students (49 females and 33 males) in grade 9 at a nontraditional school for students who have been deemed at risk for gang and…