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…

This paper reports the further testing of a research instrument to examine the expectations and self-perceptions of employability of business students at post-graduate level, building on previously reported research with undergraduates [Rothwell, A., Herbert, I., & Rothwell, F. (2008). "Self perceived employability: Construction and initial…

This paper reports the development of a research instrument to examine the expectations and self-perceptions of employability of business undergraduates (bachelor degree students) in three UK universities, and examines relationships with other measures. The scale was found to have a satisfactory internal reliability coefficient for an untested…

Examined the criterion-related validity of the American College Testing Program Interest Inventory (ACT-UNIACT) which yields both Holland type High Point Codes and World of Work Map (WWM) placements. Used scores of college seniors (N=854) in analyses which measured the match between their UNIACT assignment and their college major. (Author/ABB)

A sample of male Investigative subjects (N=171) who completed the SDS as freshmen in 1970 was sent a questionnaire four years later. Results indicated that, for Investigative-type freshman males, the SDS has moderately high efficiency in predicting, four years later, their ultimate major and their immediate and future vocational plans. (Author)

Assessed validity of Holland's differentiation construct. Measures hypothesized to be related to the ability to make vocational decisions were differentiation indices, vocational identity scale, and Occupational Alternatives Question. Results indicated the traditional differentiation index is not a useful way of approaching the differentiation…

Describes a four-factor, 20-item Everyday Spatial Activities Test (ESAT) developed for use with college students for studying the contribution of differential spatial experiences to educational and vocational behaviors. Correlations with objective tests, including a test of space visualization, establishes preliminary validity for the ESAT.…

The Strong Interest Inventory was completed by 189 female and 168 male African-American college students (20 percent response). Correlations among the General Occupational Theme scales supported the potential applicability of Holland's theory to African Americans, but highlighted gender differences. (SK)

Examined the factorial validity of the decision-making style scales of the Assessment of Career Decision Making (ACDM-DMS). The responses of 819 undergraduate students were subjected to an exploratory iterative principal components factor analysis. Three factors were retained as the most clearly defined, interpretable solution. (BH)

Evaluates the Medical Career Development Inventory, a measure of career maturity, with student-physicians (N=160). Results indicated that it is possible to construct a measure of vocational development for a population of adults encountering a common set of vocational development tasks. (LLL)

Ninth graders and technical college students were tested to determine the validity of the Crites model of career maturity. Results showed career choice competencies are fairly highly related to each other. There is a relationship between career maturity and sex and race of student. (Author/JAC)

A study of 1,813 college freshmen in Hong Kong showed that Holland's model of interests and personality types has considerable external validity. Students with stronger traditional Chinese values behaved less consistently with Holland's model than those with weaker traditional values. (SK)

Holland's [Holland, J. L. (1959). A theory of occupational choice. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 6, 35-45; Holland, J. L. (1997). Making vocational choices: A theory of vocational personalities and work environments (3rd ed.). Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources, Inc.] RIASEC types were initially developed using a restricted range…

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 degree of convergent validity among four methods of identifying vocational preferences is assessed via the decision theoretic paradigm. Vocational preferences identified by Holland's Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI), a rating procedure, and ranking were compared with preferences identified from a policy-capturing model developed from an…