The Self Directed Search was recently revised (Form R) after two tests: a version with 70 new items was administered to 701 people to identify good and bad items, and 2,600 students and adults completed the final Form R. The Occupations Finder was revised, and a technical manual and professional user's guide were created. (SK)

The Self-Directed Search, a self-administered, self-scored, and self-interpreted vocational counseling tool, was administered to 43 blind adults. Results indicated that the Social (S) personality type was predominant for both men and women, a finding for blind men discrepant with the normative data. (Author/DB)

A larger canonical correlation of Self-Directed Search scores with those from the Ball Aptitude Battery for 198 high school students was found compared to results from a 1977 study being replicated. Only modest overlap between the Self Directed Search and the Ball Aptitude Battery was found. (SK)

Self-beliefs are not measures of ability and skill but they are correlated with interests and activities and are useful predictors of occupational choices. Holland's theory of vocational personalities provides a framework compatible with Social Cognitive Career Theory and goal theory; the Self-Directed Search is a viable means of assessing…

Compared effectiveness of two career self-assessments: the Vocational Interest, Experience, and Skills Assessment (VIESA) and the Self-Directed Search (SDS). Fifty-one college student volunteers from career-planning seminars participated. Results indicated both instruments were found useful. No statistically significant preference for either SDS…

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 present study tests the applicability of Carlson's theory for a sample of gifted and talented female adolescents by examining three dimensions of possible self-esteem antecedents: actual talent ratings, self-perceptions of talent, and personality attributes. (Author/LMO)

Determines how the Self-Directed Search (SDS) achieves its effects. High school girls were assessed before and after treatment for vocational aspirations, knowledge of typology, and information seeking. Nonsignificant findings imply that SDS achieves its effects partly because of its numerous occupational options. Instructional booklets increase…

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)

Examined the number and type of scoring errors made on Holland's Self-Directed Search-R (SDS-R). Participants were high school juniors and seniors (N=91). Results indicate that although some errors were made, the SDS-R was perceived as a useful career assessment tool. Implications are discussed. (Author/RJM)

The career guidance component of the Mississippi State University/West Point Enrichment Project involved three sessions: self-inventory, career exploration, and personal development guidance counseling. The career guidance component was developed to provide at-risk adolescents with the experience of career exploration and information about…

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…

This paper offers some suggestions and cautions concerning the use of the Self-Directed Search (SDS) and the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory (SCII). A rationale for separate scoring of interest and ability sections of the SDS is provided, i.e., that correlations between interest and abilities and between abilities and vocational satisfaction…

Project SEARCH (also titled "A Model for Providing Vocational Counseling Services to Adult Basic Education Students) investigated methods of providing counseling services with basic education programs while serving as a model counseling program. Designed to increase adult basic education (ABE) students' self-awareness, decision-making and…