Self Directed Search (SDS) raw score and same-sex normed standard score codes were obtained on a sample of 16- to 18-year-old New Zealand high school students. The 59 boys and 59 girls who showed differences in the first letter of their codes rated the attractiveness of selected DOT job descriptions. (Author)

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…

The appropriateness of raw score reports of human traits is questioned, especially in light of the support provided for Holland's theory by normed scores and the stereotypic career options suggested to males and females by raw scores. (Author)

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)

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…

Prediger confuses observations about the data with Holland's theoretical statement, performs some uninterpretable analyses, omits much relevant data, and provides an incomplete account of what psychometric authorities have said about raw scores in interest inventories. (Author)

Describes study using Self-Directed Search vocational interest inventory with 75 Canada Native high school students. Finds the inventory reliable and stable for use with Indian students. (LFL)

Investigates: (1) the ability of the Canadian Occupational Interest Inventory (COII) and the Self-Directed Search (SDS) to discriminate among Grade 12 students; (2) inter-scale correlations of these measures; and (3) relationships between the student groups' interest patterns and external reference points. Findings indicate the scales discriminate…

Holland hypothesized that personality pattern consistency is related to vocational satisfaction, stability, and success. The viability of this key construct in Holland's theory of careers is examined in light of the expected relationship between level of consistency and frequency of occurrence of 2-letter Holland personality codes. Results are…

This special issue includes the following: "Introduction"; "Interest Inventories: Which One, Why, and for Whom?"; "Recent Reports from the Committee to Screen Career Guidance Instruments"; "Assessment of Career Specialty Interests in Business and Medicine"; "Using Career Interest Inventories with…

Two self-administered, self-scored, and self-interpreted career interest inventories used by adolescents and adults are described, the Self-Directed Search and its Form Easy, an adaptation for poor readers. The paper discusses test components, subtests, and theory; gender issues; interpretation; appropriateness; coding discrepancies; and…

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…