Criterion-keying of interest inventories involves selecting items which best distinguish a group of incumbents in a particular occupation from another group intended to represent the population of interest. This practice is questioned here and data are presented to support the author's contention. (Author/JKS)

Interest scales designed to provide educational and vocational guidance to midshipmen at the U.S. Naval Academy were developed from the Strong Vocational Interest Blank. Three of the scales provided an index of similarity between a person's interests and the interests of previous graduates from each of the Academy's three academic areas:…