The major purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between play complexity, occupational preference, and perceived self-competence. A second focus was to examine these variables in terms of age, gender, and socioeconomic status (SES). Two age groups (200 third graders and 206 sixth graders) participated in the initial part of the…

This report describes the initial development of the Vocational Interest Survey (VIS), which is comprised of six experimental scales for the measurement of Holland's vocational typology. The initial item pool was generated by the free-association written responses of high school students. Occupational titles were selected for inclusion in a pilot…

A study examined the work value preferences of young women in their late teens and early twenties. A descriptive self-report instrument was administered to 496 female undergraduate students at a midwestern university. Respondents were asked to rate the importance of 30 work values that were organized into two groups--work values that directly…

A five-phased project is described which was designed to develop more specific diagnostic procedures and instrumentation that would allow both the vocational counselor and the prospective student to determine more effectively specific occupational programs and occupational objectives for education at the postsecondary level. Phases of the project…

This book of readings for counselors, researchers, faculty, graduate students, and policy-makers provides information regarding issues on sex fairness and sex bias in occupational interest measurement. The papers are presented in three sections, with each section prefaced by introductory comments by the editors. The first section, an introduction,…

Since the need for good programers exists and will increase, their identification before training is desirable. Until now only single tests of potential ability have been evaluated. In this study several tests used in various combinations were evaluated as test batteries. The IBM Aptitude Test for Programmer Personnel (ATPP) and the Strong…

A sample of 593 pilot trainees in Officer Training School were administered the Strong Vocational Interest Blank and the Officer Biographical and Attitudinal Survey. Their performance in pilot training was monitored in order to assess the effectiveness of biographical, attitudinal, and interest data in predicting pilot training criteria. Using…

The Opinion Attitude and Interest Survey (OAIS), a multi-dimensional personality and interest inventory, provides 14 scales which furnish information pertinent to the admission and counseling of college bound students. The validity of the Academic Promise Scales and two of the Psychological Adjustment Scales was investigated, as was the…

Research related to the issues of sexual bias in the use of interest inventories is reviewed, particularly from the client's view of the career exploration process. Since counselors refer to manuals and interpretive materials to obtain norming information and guidelines for score interpretation, these sources are examined and found to contain both…

Information from tests, when considered in the context of decision theory, can play an important role in vocational development. This role is primarily one of stimulating and facilitating exploratory behavior. Objective procedures for converting test data into counseling information are discussed and illustrated with special attention being given…

Using post-secondary vocational education students as the populations, these two sub-studies of the Project MINI-SCORE sought to determine the extent to which pre-enrollment standardized test data can be used to predict vocational success. For the purpose of the study, vocational success was defined either as successful graduation or successful…

Career guidance techniques in this package focus on the competency area of testing. The package is one of eight, each covering one of the following career guidance competencies that were identified and validated as needed by teachers to assist in the career development of their students: Valuing, decisionmaking, lifestyle, community resources,…

The National Post-School Outcomes Center (NPSO), in conjunction the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) and the Regional Resource Centers (RRCs), held a series of conference calls with states to assess their needs for technical assistance on the new requirements for collecting and reporting post-school outcome…

As GED (General Educational Development) Testing Service considers the feasibility of a computer administration of the GED Tests, one issue being considered is the difference in costs of supplying only a computer-based format vs. offering both computer-based and paper formats of the GED Tests. A significant concern then arises as to whether…

The development of an inventory of Mexican immigrant students' reading preferences is described. A study involving 405 Mexican immigrant students in grades 6-9 in southern New Mexico examined various influences on reading preferences. Results indicate that although preferences differed by gender, grade level, and U.S. residence, titles reflecting…