Examining vocational interests is a central component of career counseling; yet, little research has investigated structural differences for specific subpopulations or the role of cultural factors on vocational interests. The purpose of this study was to examine the structure of interests, congruence between expressed and measured interests, and…

Investigated the cross-cultural similarity of vocational interests among Mexican and American male law and engineering students and professionals. Results indicated that all groups were significantly different but the group centroids of Mexican and American student engineers were closer than were group centroids for American and Mexican student…

A study of influences on career choice for 187 Asian Americans supported a path model showing that acculturation, family background, and self-efficacy had the most significant effects on choosing an occupation. (71 references) (SK)

Workplace and work force changes will change the focus of career assessments to clusters of interests, skills, and values because clients will repeatedly seek employment in clusters rather than specific job titles. Career assessments will begin earlier and end later in life. (SK)

Investigates the academic-subject-matter domain specificity of self-efficacy, interests, outcome expectations, and goals. Results indicate that a factor solution that accommodates both distinct subject matters and distinct constructs supports the existence of the constructs of academic self-efficacy, interests, outcome expectancies, and goals that…

This study examined evidence for the use of the Strong Interest Inventory with diverse populations, including examination of the structure of interests across five racial/ethnic groups, finding similarity in perceptions of the world of work. The study also studied differences in means for the General Occupational Themes and Basic Interest Scales…

This article focuses on the construct of outcome expectations. It is argued that the construct has received relatively little attention in the vocational literature. The authors define outcome expectations, trace the precursors to the construct, provide a critique of the operationalization of the construct, and propose recommendations for future…

Reviews the literature on vocational interests. Ten themes about vocational interests are discussed: development, correlates, measurement, homogeneity and differentiation, career choice, sex differences, stability, structure, career counseling, and cultural influences. Claims these themes are similar to major issues discussed by Strong in his…

Discusses the influence of culture on four stages of vocational assessment. Reviews the role culture plays in problem clarification, information gathering, understanding the problem, and coping with the problem. Addresses issues in the use of standardized tests across cultures and highlights research on cross-cultural interest assessment. (Author)

Explores the structure of interests across samples of employed U.S. racial-ethnic minority and nonminority adults drawn from over 38,000 individuals who participated in the 1994 revision of the Strong Interest Inventory (SII). Results suggest that the SII can be used to assess the interests of those from different racial-ethnic groups. (RJM)

Analysis of Strong Interest Inventory Scores from 205 Mexican and 342 U.S. male engineering students/professionals had the following results: (1) interest structure was similar across cultures; (2) Holland's calculus assumption was supported; and (3) a circular rather than an equilateral hexagonal structure was supported. (SK)

This study examined racial/ethnic group differences on an interest inventory at the item level using differential bundle functioning (DBF) analyses. Specifically, responses of males and females from five different racial/ethnic groups (N=3750) on the General Occupational Themes of the Strong were examined. Items were grouped together based on…

Investigated cross-cultural similarity of vocational interests of students and professional engineers in United States and Mexico (total N=557). Results from Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory scales indicated similarity among all groups, but Mexican and United States professional engineers were dissimilar on several avocational interest scales.…

Tested the correspondence of interests of Spanish-speaking clients to Holland's theory using the English and Spanish versions of the Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory administered to 94 bilingual Hispanic high school students. Results suggested that the two forms of the inventory correlated .79, and supported Holland's (1973) structure of…

Presents biographical information on Lenore White Harmon, noted professor, counselor, and researcher. In a question-and-answer section, Harmon describes her early career decisions, work history, research efforts, professional contributions, important influences and reflections on her career development. (KW)