Research has shown that science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors who are more academically prepared--especially in terms of their mathematics and science test scores--are more likely to be successful across a variety of outcomes: cumulative grade point average (GPA), persistence in a STEM major, and ultimately earning a STEM…

We examined a longstanding assumption in vocational psychology that people-things and data-ideas are bipolar dimensions. Two minimal criteria for bipolarity were proposed and examined across 3 studies: (a) The correlation between opposite interest types should be negative; (b) after correcting for systematic responding, the correlation should be…

Vocational interests of librarians and information scientists were studied using the American College Testing (ACT) Interest Inventory and a job activity questionnaire. A significant difference was found between the past and present placement of libraries on the ACT World-of-Work Map, but the ACT indicated that the two groups share essentially…

The construct validity of vocational interest test scores was examined by finding the interest profiles of 15,447 college students in 51 majors. Standard scores based on same-sex norms were found to be more valid on this criterion than were raw scores. (CTM)

Discriminant function analyses involving two vocational interest inventories (ACT Interest Inventory and Lunneborg's Vocational Interest Inventory) to differentiate majors of college graduates supported the definition of three dimensions: Business Contact vs. Science, Business Detail vs. Arts, and Service vs. Technical. This common structure…

A mapping procedure is presented for studying the construct validity of interest inventories that assess the six interest types defined by J. L. Holland. The 1989 revision of the American College Testing Program Interest Inventory (UNIACT) was used to assess the interests of 1,078 12th-grade students (497 males and 581 females) and 725 adults aged…

The controversy over what divergent thinking tests measure was addressed by conducting a study of the relationship between divergent thinking and vocational interests. Forty-one above-average fifth graders were administered Pattern and Line Meanings a year before they took the American College Testing Program (ACT) Interest Inventory. Divergent…

A longitudinal study of various measures of creativity was conducted to determine the validity of a number of possible predictors of an arts orientation. Tests of creative thinking, creative personality, divergent thinking, intelligence, and school achievement were administered to above-average fifth-graders (N=23), who also drew pictures based on…

Data from this study suggest the ACT Interest Inventory is appropriate for use with minority group members. Data from 2,280 college seniors (1,237 males and 1,043 females) representing black, native American, oriental American, Spanish-surnamed American, and white ethnic groups were analyzed to determine whether the ACT Interest Inventory could…