The purpose of this paper is to examine the basic vocational interest dimensions of women. The usefulness of the basic interest dimensions when counseling with women is discussed from a practical and a theoretical point of view. (Author)

This study examines the effectiveness of sex-balanced and sex-restrictive raw score interest scales in discriminating among vocational preference groups. Analyses were conducted separately for 502 males in six vocational preference groups and 878 females in five vocational preference groups. Differences may restrict career suggestions provided to…

A basic assumption underlying Holland's theory of careers is that men and women in the same occupation have the same personality pattern. Contrary to expectations, this research shows there are substantial and systematic differences in the Holland raw codes of males and females pursuing the same occupations, especially nontraditional occupations.…

Data on the reliability and validity of the sex-valances scales are summarized along with data from previous research on sex-balanced scales and reporting procedures. Data include that sex differences currently found in interest inventory scores may simply be an unfortunate legacy from an era that took traditional sex roles for granted. (Author)

This report describes the rationale, development, technical characteristics, and use of the ACT Interest Inventory, which provides both descriptive information about an individual's interests and information to facilitate focused exploration of educational and career alternatives. The report begins with consideration of the question, "What…

This study compared the criterion-related validity of interest inventories measuring basic types of interests. A significant characteristic of reports based on same-sex norms is they suggest similar vocational options to males and females. The other reporting procedures typically suggest options traditional for a person's sex. (Author)

The widely divergent career options suggested to men and women by the Self-Directed Search (SDS) raw scores are noted and misunderstandings concerning the implications of Holland's assessment procedures for his theory are discussed. Holland's defense of raw score reports of personality characteristics is found wanting especially in light of the…

This symposium examines recent research on sex restrictiveness as a potential indicator of sex bias. Two specific questions are addressed: (1) Can useful non-sex-restrictive raw score interest scales be constructed? Research results are reported for more than 10,000 persons in six samples including 9th graders, 11th graders, college-bound…

Men and women are not now similar in all their likes and dislikes, but it is an unanswered question as to which of those dissimilarities are directly related to job satisfaction or dissatisfaction. Basically, the sex difference problem raises an issue which is emphasized throughout the paper: that the goal of interest measurement is to predict job…