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52
ACT RESEARCH REPORT CHANGES IN THE VOCATIONAL PLANS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS ORDERLY OR RANDOM? JOHN L. HOLLAND DOUGLAS R. WHITNEY , r No. 25 25 V^April, 1968J U £ American College Testing Program P» 0» Box 168, Iowa City, Iowa 52240

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Page 1: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

ACT RESEARCH REPORT

CHANGES IN THE VOCATIONAL PLANS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS ORDERLY OR RANDOM?

JOHN L. HOLLAND DOUGLAS R. WHITNEY

, r

No. 25

25V^April, 1968J

U£ American College Testing Program

P» 0» Box 168, Iowa City, Iowa 52240

Page 2: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

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Page 3: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

S u m m a r y

T h i s e x t e n s i o n of an e a r l i e r s tudy i n v e s t i g a t e d the h y p o t h e s i s

t h a t o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e s fol low o r d e r l y o r l a w fu l p a t t e r n s and can be

p r e d i c t e d f r o m in i t ia l c h o i c e s . By a p p l y in g H o l l a n d ' s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n

s c h e m e to s t u d e n t s ' s u c c e s s i v e o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e s , w e l e a r n e d th a t

the c l a s s i f i c a t i o n p r o v i d e s a p r a c t i c a l d e f in i t i o n of o c c u p a t i o n a l r e l a t e d ­

n e s s . W e found tha t the u s e of a t h r e e - d i g i t V o c a t i o n a l P r e f e r e n c e

I n v e n t o r y (VPI) code and th i s d e f in i t i o n of r e l a t e d n e s s r e s u l t e d in

i m p r o v e d p r e d i c t i o n s o v e r t h o s e m a d e u s in g on ly the h i g h e s t V P I

s c a l e . O c c u p a t i o n a l c h a n g e " m a p s " a r e p r e s e n t e d to a s s i s t in the

u n d e r s t a n d i n g of the c o n c e p t s and f in d in g s .

Page 4: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns
Page 5: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

C h a n g e s in the V o c a t i o n a l P l a n s of C o l l e g e S tu d e n t s :

O r d e r l y o r R a n d o m ?

John L. H o l l a n d a n d D o u g la s R. W h i tn e y

A m e r i c a n C o l l e g e T e s t i n g P r o g r a m

N e a r l y e v e r y o n e - - p a r e n t s , c o u n s e l o r s , r e s e a r c h e r s , and e d u c a t o r s - -

b e l i e v e s t h a t the v o c a t i o n a l a m b i t i o n s of c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s a r e b o th u n s t a b l e

and d i s o r d e r l y ; th a t is , s t u d e n t s o f ten c h a n g e t h e i r m i n d s , and t h e i r

s u c c e s s i v e o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e s f r e q u e n t l y a p p e a r u n r e l a t e d . P e r h a p s

the c h i e f o u t c o m e of t h e s e b e l i e f s , a t l e a s t f o r r e s e a r c h e r s , h a s b e e n

the s e a r c h f o r m o r e s t a b l e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of the s tu d e n t w h i c h cou ld be

u s e d to f o r e c a s t h i s o c c u p a t i o n a l f u t u r e . R e s e a r c h e r s an d t h e i r s p o n s o r s

h a v e i n v e s t e d h e a v i l y in the d e v e l o p m e n t of b e t t e r i n t e r e s t i n v e n t o r i e s ,

and in th e d e v e l o p m e n t of p r e d i c t i v e m e t h o d s th a t u s e l a r g e an d d i v e r s e

a m o u n t s of s t u d e n t i n f o r m a t i o n - - n o t a b l y the d i s c r i m i n a t e f u n c t i o n a n d the

m u l t i p l e r e g r e s s i o n t e c h n i q u e s .

T h e p r e s e n t s tu d y a t t e m p t s to i n t e r p r e t an d p r e d i c t a s t u d e n t ' s

s u c c e s s i v e o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e s by s t i l l a n o t h e r m e t h o d - - t h e u s e of a

c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s c h e m e and i t s c l o s e l y a s s o c i a t e d t h e o r y . H o l l a n d ' s

p s y c h o l o g i c a l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s c h e m e (H ol land , 1966b) w a s a p p l i e d to the

s u c c e s s i v e o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e s of c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s to l e a r n if s t u d e n t

c h a n g e s in o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e a r e o r d e r l y o r i n t e r p r e t a b l e in t e r m s of

a t h e o r y of p e r s o n a l i t y t y p e s , a n d if a c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s c h e m e so o r g a n i z e s

a s t u d e n t ' s o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e s t h a t e f f i c i e n t p r e d i c t i o n s b e c o m e p o s s i b l e .

Page 6: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

- 2 -

M e th o d

S tu d e n t S a m p l e

T h e d a t a f o r the p r e s e n t s tu d y c a m e f r o m A m e r i c a n C o l l e g e

S u r v e y s d e s c r i b e d e a r l i e r by R i c h a r d s , H o l la n d , and L u t z (1967).

C o l l e g e f r e s h m e n w e r e tw ic e p o l l e d f o r t h e i r v o c a t i o n a l a s p i r a t i o n s ,

the s e c o n d i n s t a n c e f o l lo w in g the f i r s t a b o u t 8 o r 12 m o n t h s l a t e r .

S tu d e n t s c a m e f r o m two c o l l e g e s a m p l e s . T he f r e s h m e n in

the f a l l s a m p l e of s ix c o l l e g e s w e r e p o l l e d in S e p t e m b e r of 1964 and

in M ay of 1 9 6 5 - - a n 8 - m o n t h i n t e r v a l . T h e s p r i n g s a m p l e of c o l l e g e

f r e s h m e n w e r e p o l l e d in M a y of 1964 an d a g a i n in M a y of 1965, w h e n

they w e r e s o p h o m o r e s - - a 1 2 - m o n t h i n t e r v a l . T h e s p r i n g s a m p l e

i n c lu d e d 28 c o l l e g e s . B o th s a m p l e s c o n t a i n e d s t u d e n t s w i th a g r e a t

r a n g e of s c h o l a s t i c p o t e n t i a l , v o c a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t s , and s o c i o e c o n o m i c

s t a t u s . T a b l e 1 s h o w s the s a m p l e s of c o l l e g e s and s t u d e n t s .

C l a s s i f i c a t i o n S c h e m e

F o r a l l the fo l low ing a n a l y s e s , s t u d e n t v o c a t i o n a l c h o i c e s w e r e

c a t e g o r i z e d a c c o r d i n g to the c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s c h e m e d e v e l o p e d e a r l i e r :

s i x c a t e g o r i e s f o r m e n - - R e a l i s t ic , I n t e l l e c t u a l , S o c ia l , C o n v e n t io n a l ,

E n t e r p r i s i n g , and A r t i s t i c - - a n d s e v e n c a t e g o r i e s f o r w o m e n - - I n t e l l e c t u a l ,

S o c i a l - I n t e l l e c t u a l , S o c i a l - C o n v e n t i o n a l , S o c i a l - E n t e r p r is ing, S o c i a l -

A r t i s t i c , C o n v e n t i o n a l , and A r t i s t i c (H ol land , 1966b). T a b l e s 2 and 3

i n d i c a t e the a s s i g n m e n t of v o c a t i o n a l c h o i c e s to v o c a t i o n a l c l a s s e s f o r

m e n and w o m e n . S t u d e n t s s e l e c t e d t h e i r c a r e e r c h o i c e s f r o m a co d ed

l i s t of 99 c a r e e r s . S in c e a l l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s w e r e p e r f o r m e d by a c o m ­

p u t e r , w e a s s u m e d th a t th e y w e r e p e r f o r m e d w i t h p e r f e c t r e l i a b i l i t y .

Page 7: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

- 3 -

T a b l e 1

The S a m p l e s of S t u d e n t s and C o l l e g e s

C o l l e g e M a l e F e m a l e

S p r i n g S a m p l eU n i v e r s i t y of A l a b a m a 186 201A r k a n s a s P o l y t e c h n i c C o l l e g e 72 52C a l i f o r n i a S t a t e C o l l e g e a t H a y w a r d 62 74C o l o r a d o S t a t e C o l l e g e 31 107S o u t h e r n C o n n e c t i c u t S t a t e C o l l e g e 89 273W e s l e y a n U n i v e r s i t y ( C o n n e c t i c u t ) 86B l o o m T o w n s h i p C o m m u n i t y C o l l e g e ( I l l in o is ) 38 20L y o n s T o w n s h i p J u n i o r C o l l e g e ( I l l in o is ) 29 32S o u t h e r n I l l i n o i s U n i v e r s i t y 48 29In d ia n a S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y 126 164B u r l i n g t o n C o m m u n i t y C o l l e g e (Iowa) 79 31K a n s a s S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y 322 216U n i v e r s i t y of K e n tu c k y 139 1 54W e s t b r o o k J u n i o r C o l l e g e (M aine ) 103W i l l i a m J e w e l l C o l l e g e ( M i s s o u r i ) 74 66P l y m o u t h S t a t e C o l l e g e (New H a m p s h i r e ) 38 86G l a s s b o r o S t a t e C o l l e g e {New J e r s e y ) 121 393New M e x i c o S t a t e U n i v e r s i t y 52 19J a m e s t o w n C o m m u n i t y C o l l e g e (New Y ork ) 21 43U n i v e r s i t y of N o r t h D a k o ta 89 123S o u t h e a s t e r n S t a t e C o l l e g e ( O k la h o m a ) 97 6lM o u n t M e r c y C o l l e g e ( P e n n s y l v a n i a ) - - 104S w a r t h m o r e C o l l e g e ( P e n n s y l v a n i a ) 54 46B l a c k H i l l s S t a t e C o l l e g e (South D a k o ta ) 60 38U n i v e r s i t y of T e n n e s s e e 205 184B a y l o r U n i v e r s i t y ( T e x a s ) 64 101Snow C o l l e g e (U tah) 18 31F a i r m o n t S t a t e C o l l e g e ( W e s t V i r g i n i a ) 93 85

T o ta l 2293 2836

F a l l S a m p l e

C a l i f o r n i a S t a t e C o l l e g e a t H a y w a r d 69 102C h ic o S ta t e C o l l e g e ( C a l i f o r n i a ) 109 173A m h e r s t C o l l e g e ( M a s s a c h u s e t t s ) 238U n i v e r s i t y of M a s s a c h u s e t t s 759 875B a l d w i n - W a l l a c e C o l l e g e (Ohio) 221 265C u y a h o g a C o m m u n i t y C o l l e g e (O h io ) 180 1 56

T o t a l 1576 1571 '

Page 8: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

T ab le 2

A P s y c h o l o g i c a l C l a s s i f i c a t i o n S c h e m e f o r V o c a t i o n s(Men)

V o c a t io n V P IC ode V o c a t i o n

V P ICode

R e a l i s t i c c l a s s I n t e l l e c t u a l c l a s s ( c o n ' t . )I n d u s t r i a l a r t s educ RIS B io lo g y ISRT r a d e & i n d u s t r i a l e d u c RIS N a t u r a l s c i e n c e e d u c ISRF o r e s t r y RIS M a t h e m a t i c s e d u c ISR

C iv i l e n g i n e e r i n g R IE O t h e r h e a l t h f i e l d s ISAF a r m i n g R IE M e d i c i n e ISAM e c h a n i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g R IEI n d u s t r i a l e n g i n e e r i n g R IE D e n t i s t r y IER

A r c h i t e c t u r e RIA P h a r m a c yP h y s i o l o g y

IESIES

G e o g r a p h y R IS EP h y s i c a l t h e r a p y IAS

A g r i c u l t u r a l s c i e n c e R E I A n t h r o p o l o g y IAS

I n t e l l e c t u a l c l a s s S o c i a l c l a s sO c e a n o g r a p h y IRS ■ P h y s i c a l e d u c , r e c r e ­V e t e r i n a r y s c i e n c e IRS a t i o n & h e a l t h S R IB i o c h e m i s t r y IRS E d u c of e x c e p t i o n a lB o ta n y IRS c h i l d r e n S R IZ o o lo g y IRS

E l e m e n t a r y e d u c a t i o n SIEA e r o n a u t i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g IR E E x p e r i m e n t a l & g e n e r a lC h e m i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g IR E p s y c h o l o g y S IEE l e c t r i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g IRE S o c i a l w o r k SIEE n g i n e e r i n g , g e n e r a l &

o t h e r IRE H i s t o r y e d u c a t i o n S E IM i l i t a r y s e r v i c e IRE E d u c a t i o n a l p s y c h o l o g y

H i s t o r yS E IS E I

G eo logy , g e o p h y s i c s IRAA s t r o n o m y , a s t r o p h y s i c s IRA E d u c a t i o n , g e n e r a l &C h e m i s t r y IRA o t h e r s p e c i a l t i e s S E AP h y s i c s IRA C o u n s e l i n g & g u i d a n c e S E AE n g i n e e r i n g s c i e n c e IRA I n d u s t r i a l & p e r s o n n e l

p s y c h o l o g y SEAM a t h e m a t i c s , s t a t i s t i c s IRC F o r e i g n s e r v i c e S E AM e t a l l u r g i c a l e n g i n e e r IR C E

S o c io lo g y SEIAM e d i c a l t e c h n o l o g y IRSA

O t h e r b i o l o g i c a l s c i f i e ld ISR

Page 9: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

V o c a t io nV P I

Code

Tab le 2 (con ' t . )

V o ca t io nV P I

Code

S o c i a l c l a s s ( c o n ' t . )G e n e r a l s o c i a l s c i e n c e s SAI T h e o l o g y , r e l i g i o n SAIC l i n i c a l p s y c h o l o g y SAI

F o r e i g n l a n g u a g e educ SAE

C o n v e n t i o n a l c l a s sB u s i n e s s e d u c a t i o n CSE

A c c o u n t i n g C E R

F i n a n c e C E I

E n t e r p r i s i n g c l a s sP u b l i c a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ESC

P o l i t i c a l s c i e n c e ESA

P u r c h a s i n g E C RS a l e s E C R

E c o n o m i c s E C IO t h e r b u s i n e s s & c o m ­

m e r c i a l E C I

M a n a g e m e n t E C SM a r k e t i n g E C S

Law EAS

P u b l i c r e l a t i o n s E A C

A r t i s t i c c l a s sL i t e r a t u r e AISA r t AIS

S p e e c h ASIG e n e r a l h u m a n i t i e s ASIP h i l o s o p h y ASIE n g l i s h , c r e a t i v e w r i t A SI A r t e d u c a t i o n A SIM u s i c e d u c a t i o n ASI

A r t i s t i c c l a s s (c o n ' t )M u s i c ASED r a m a A SEE n g l i s h e d u c a t io n A SE

J o u r n a l i s m , r a d i o - t v ,c o m m u n i c a t i o n A ES

O t h e r f ine & a p p l i e d a r t A E I

N o te . U n d e r l i n i n g i n d i c a t e s t i e d a v e r a g e V P I s c a l e s c o r e s .

Page 10: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

-6 -

T a b le 3

A P s y c h o l o g i c a l C l a s s i f i c a t i o n S c h e m e f o r V o c a t i o n s(W o m e n )

V o c a t io n V PICode

V o c a t i o n V P ICode

R e a l i s t i c c l a s s S o c i a l c l a s s ( c o n ' t . )None P o l i t i c a l s c i , g o v ' t ,

i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s SAII n t e l l e c t u a l c l a s s T h e o l o g y , r e l i g i o n SAI

M a t h e m a t i c s , s t a t i s t i c s ISC P h y s i c a l t h e r a p y S A I

M e d i c i n e ISA S p e e c h S A EV e t e r i n a r y m e d i c i n e ISA E l e m e n t a r y e d u c a t i o n S A EO t h e r b i o l o g i c a l s c i e n c e ISA F o r e i g n l a n g u a g e e d u c S A EB io lo g y ISA E n g l i s h e d u c a t i o n S A EB io - c h e m i s t r y ISA E d u c , g e n e r a l & o t h e rZ o o logy ISA s p e c i a l t i e s S A EN a t u r a l s c i e n c e e d u c ISA H i s t o r y e d u c a t i o n S A EC h e m i s t r y ISA P h y s i c a l e d u c , r e c r e ­

a t i o n & h e a l t h S A EP h y s i c s IAR E d u c a t i o n of e x c e p t i o n a l

c h i l d r e n S A EA g r i c u l t u r a l s c i e n c e IAS H o m e e c o n o m i c s e d u c S A EA r c h i t e c t u r e IAS C o u n s e l i n g & g u id a n c e S A E

S o c io lo g y S A ES o c i a l c l a s s H i s t o r y SAE

P h a r m a c y SLA P u b l i c r e l a t i o n s , a d v e r ­M e d i c a l t e c h n o lo g y SIA t i s i n g S A EM a t h e m a t i c s e d u c a t i o n SIA Law S A E

S o c i a l w o r k , g r o u p w o r k S A EC l e r i c a l w o r k , o f f ice S C E H o m e e c o n o m i c s S A EB u s i n e s s e d u c a t i o n S C E H o u s e w i f e S A E

S e c r e t a r i a l s c i e n c e SCA C o n v e n t i o n a l c l a s sA c c o u n t i n g CSE

M a n a g e m e n t , b u s i n e s sa d m i n i s t r a t i o n SEA E n t e r p r i s i n g c l a s s

S a l e s SEA N oneP u r c h a s i n g SEAE d u c a t i o n a l p s y c h o l o g y S E A A r t i s t i c c l a s s

A r t A SID e n t i s t r y SAI A r t e d u c a t i o n A SIN u r s i n g SAI L i t e r a t u r e A SIO t h e r h e a l t h f i e l d s SAI E n g l i s h , c r e a t i v e w r i t A SIC l i n i c a l p s y c h o l o g y SAI M u s i c A SIE x p e r i m e n t a l & g e n e r a l

p s y c h o l o g y SAI

Page 11: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

T ab le 3 (con ' t . )

V o c a t io n V P ICode

A r t i s t i c c l a s s (con ' t . )

M u s i c e d u c a t io n A SED r a m a A SEO t h e r f in e & a p p l i e d

a r t s ASEM o d e r n f o r e i g n l a n g u a g e ASEJ o u r n a l i s m , r a d i o - t v ,

c o m m u n i c a t i o n A SEF o r e i g n s e r v i c e A SEL i b r a r y s c i , a r c h i v a l

s c i e n c e A SE

If w e c l a s s i f y p e o p l e by s i m i l a r v o c a t i o n a l c h o i c e s , w e a r e a l s o

c l a s s i f y i n g s i m i l a r p e r s o n a l i t i e s . A c c o r d i n g l y , the p r e s e n t s c h e m e s

a r r a n g e v o c a t i o n s in t e r m s of p e r s o n a l i t y t y p e s and s u b t y p e s .

T h e i n s t r u m e n t u s e d in d e v e l o p i n g the c l a s s i f i c a t i o n w a s the

V o c a t i o n a l P r e f e r e n c e I n v e n t o r y (VPI) (H ol land , 1967). U s i n g th is

i n v e n t o r y p r o v i d e d a p s y c h o l o g i c a l r a t i o n a l e f o r the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n of

the c l a s s i f i c a t i o n , a s th e s c a l e s a s s e s s the m a j o r c o n s t r u c t s in a

t h e o r y of v o c a t i o n a l c h o i c e and p e r s o n a l i t y (H o l land , 1966a). B o th the

i n v e n t o r y a n d the t h e o r y h a v e u n d e r g o n e i n v e s t i g a t i o n so t h a t the m e a n ­

ings a t t r i b u t e d to s c a l e s c o r e s and , c o n s e q u e n t l y , the p r e s e n t c l a s s i f i e s

t i on s c h e m e h a v e s o m e v a l i d i t y (H ol land , 1962, 1963, 1964, 1967).

To a p p ly the l o g i c a l p r i n c i p l e s f o r c l a s s i f i c a t i o n , w e u s e d the

a v e r a g e i n t e r e s t i n v e n t o r y p r o f i l e s of s t u d e n t s a s p i r i n g to s p e c i f i c

Page 12: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

v o c a t i o n s . To i l l u s t r a t e , the p r o f i l e f o r m e d by the R e a l i s t i c , I n t e l ­

l e c t u a l , S o c ia l , C o n v e n t io n a l , E n t e r p r i s i n g , and A r t i s t i c s c a l e s of the

V P I f o r a s a m p l e of p r o s p e c t i v e p h y s i c i s t s d e f i n e d b o th the m a j o r

c l a s s to w h i c h p h y s i c i s t s b e l o n g e d ( the s c a l e w i th the h i g h e s t m e a n

s c o r e ) , and the v a r i o u s s u b c l a s s e s to w h i c h p h y s i c i s t s b e l o n g e d ( the

s c a l e s w i th the s e c o n d and t h i r d h i g h e s t m e a n s c o r e s ) . Such a

p r o c e d u r e r e s u l t s in g r o u p s and s u b g r o u p s w i t h an i n c r e a s i n g d e g r e e

of h o m o g e n e i t y a s w e p r o c e e d f r o m one to t h r e e a v e r a g e s c a l e s c o r e s

a s a b a s i s f o r th e f o r m a t i o n of c l a s s e s a n d s u b c l a s s e s . C o n s e q u e n t l y ,

w e w e r e a b l e to i n t e r p r e t the a p p l i c a t i o n of the c l a s s i f i c a t i o n to a p r o b l e m

w i t h m o r e r e l i a b i l i t y and v a l i d i t y th a n w e m i g h t h a v e o t h e r w i s e .

T h i s s i m p l e p r o c e d u r e , th e n , c o m p l i e s w i t h the r u l e s f o r l o g i c a l

c l a s s i f i c a t i o n : All v o c a t i o n s a r e c l a s s i f i e d in to one of s i x m a j o r c l a s s e s ;

e a c h v o c a t i o n is c l a s s i f i e d on ly in a s i n g l e s u b c l a s s . T h e p r i n c i p l e f o r

c l a s s i f i c a t i o n is a l w a y s the s a m e e m p i r i c a l p r o c e d u r e - - t h e u s e of a v e r a g e

s c o r e s f o r s i x i n t e r e s t s c a l e s .

In the fo l l o w in g a n a l y s e s , the m e n in th e f a l l an d s p r i n g s a m p l e s

w e r e c o m b i n e d ; l i k e w i s e , the w o m e n in bo th s a m p l e s w e r e c o m b i n e d .

A l th o u g h t h e s e a d d i t i o n s a r e n o t c r i c k e t b e c a u s e the s a m p l e s a r e n o t

c o m p a r a b l e in e v e r y r e s p e c t ( i n c lu d in g a d i f f e r e n c e in t i m e i n t e r v a l s

b e t w e e n s u r v e y s ) , c o m b i n i n g the s a m p l e s to i n c r e a s e the s t a b i l i t y of the

f i n d i n g s s e e m e d m o r e d e s i r a b l e tha n s e p a r a t e a n a l y s e s w i t h only o n e -

h a l f a s m a n y s t u d e n t s . N e e d l e s s to say , t h i s s tu d y r e q u i r e s r e p e t i t i o n

by o t h e r i n v e s t i g a t o r s u s in g e x t r e m e l y l a r g e s t u d e n t g r o u p s an d l o n g e r t i m e

i n t e r v a l s .

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-9 -

Re s a l t s

T h e f i r s t s t e p w a s the c o n s t r u c t i o n of s e p a r a t e t a b l e s f o r

m e n and w o m e n to show how a s t u d e n t ' s f i r s t o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e w a s

r e l a t e d to h i s s e c o n d c h o i c e 8 o r 12 m o n t h s l a t e r . T h e s e l a r g e

t a b l e s (84 by 84 o c c u p a t i o n s f o r m e n and 62 by 62 f o r w o m e n ) a r e no t

show n. A l l of the r e m a i n i n g a n a l y s e s o r t a b l e s w e r e , h o w e v e r , o b t a in e d

by e x t r a c t i n g , s u m m a r i z i n g , o r r e a r r a n g i n g the i n f o r m a t i o n in t h e s e

o r i g i n a l t a b l e s .

T a b l e s 4 and 5 f o r m e n and w o m e n a r e s u m m a r i e s of the r e l a t i o n ­

s h ip s found b e t w e e n a s t u d e n t ' s f i r s t and s e c o n d o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e s .

T h e o c c u p a t i o n s in the m a r g i n s of t h e s e t a b l e s a r e a r r a n g e d a c c o r d i n g

to the c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s c h e m e d e v e l o p e d e a r l i e r . N o te th a t e a c h m a j o r

g r o u p o r c l a s s u s u a l l y h a s s e v e r a l s u b g r o u p s . The n u m b e r s in the

d i a g o n a l a r e th e n u m b e r of s t u d e n t s w h o s e f i r s t and s e c o n d o c c u p a t i o n a l

c h o i c e s b e l o n g to the s a m e s u b g r o u p on bo th o c c a s i o n s . On the a v e r a g e ,

50% of the m e n and 60% of the w o m e n s e l e c t e d the s a m e o c c u p a t i o n on

bo th o c c a s i o n s . H o w e v e r , t h e s e a v e r a g e s c o n c e a l the g r e a t r a n g e of

d i f f e r e n c e s in s t a b i l i t y a m o n g o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e s . F o r m e n w h o s e

i n i t i a l c h o i c e w a s t h e o lo g y (N = 37), 78% a l s o s e l e c t e d i t 8 o r 12 m o n t h s

l a t e r . In c o n t r a s t , e n g i n e e r i n g s c i e n c e (N = 26) is p r e f e r r e d bo th t i m e s

by on ly 12% of i t s i n i t i a l a s p i r a n t s . In d iv id u a l o c c u p a t i o n s show a s i m i l a r

v a r i a t i o n f o r w o m e n . E l e m e n t a r y e d u c a t i o n (N = 1, 154) is p r e f e r r e d

b o th t i m e s by 83% of the w o m e n c h o o s i n g i t i n i t i a l l y , bu t b io logy (N = 29)

is p r e f e r r e d by on ly 14% of i t s i n i t i a l a s p i r a n t s . T h e m e a n i n g of th i s

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-1 0 -

v a r i a t i o n in s t a b i l i t y f r o m one o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e to the n e x t is u n c l e a r .

To s o m e e x t e n t , s t a b i l i t y g o e s w i th the p o p u l a r i t y of an o c c u p a t i o n a l

c h o i c e . At the s a m e t i m e , h i g h e r s t a b i l i t y a p p e a r s to be a s s o c i a t e d

w i th t h o s e o c c u p a t i o n s c o n s i d e r e d to be m o s t a p p r o p r i a t e f o r e a c h sex ;

t h a t i s , f e m i n i n e o c c u p a t i o n s f o r w o m e n an d m a s c u l i n e o c c u p a t i o n s f o r

m e n a p p e a r to hav e m o r e s t a b i l i t y a m o n g a s p i r a n t s . B u t t h e r e a r e

m a n y e x c e p t i o n s to b o th of t h e s e o b s e r v a t i o n s .

By s tu d y in g one o c c u p a t i o n a l s u b g r o u p a t a t i m e , the r e a d e r c a n

s e e how s t u d e n t s who s t a r t c o l l e g e in a s p e c i a l s u b g r o u p fan ou t to

r e l a t e d an d u n r e l a t e d s u b g r o u p s a f t e r 8 o r 12 m o n t h s of c o l l e g e . F o r

i n s t a n c e , the IR E s in T a b l e 4 in c lu d e s t u d e n t s w h o s e f i r s t c h o i c e s a r e

c l a s s i f i e d a s I n t e l l e c t u a l - R e a l i s t i c - E n t e r p r i s i n g o c c u p a t i o n s - - m i l i t a r y

s c i e n c e , a e r o n a u t i c a l , c h e m i c a l , e l e c t r i c a l , and g e n e r a l e n g i n e e r i n g .

T h e o r i g i n a l g r o u p of I R E s w a s c o m p o s e d of 362 s t u d e n t s . T a b l e 4

s h o w s th a t 213 of the 362 I R E s - g a v e the s a m e v o c a t i o n a l p r e f e r e n c e o r

one of the o t h e r 4 p o s s i b l e c h o i c e s in the s a m e s u b g r o u p ( IRE) 8 o r 12

m o n t h s l a t e r . T h e o t h e r n u m b e r s in the IRE row r e v e a l the new

c h o i c e s . T h e y a r e : 49 R I E s ( f a r m i n g , c iv i l , m e c h a n i c a l , and i n d u s t r i a l

e n g i n e e r i n g ) , 15 IRA s ( c h e m i s t r y , p h y s i c s , geo logy , a s t r o n o m y , g e o ­

p h y s i c s , a s t r o p h y s i c s , and e n g i n e e r i n g s c i e n c e ) , and s m a l l e r n u m b e r s

of s t u d e n t s w i th o t h e r a l t e r n a t i v e s .

T o f a c i l i t a t e the i n t e r p r e t a t i o n >of T a b l e s 4 and 5, w e p r e p a r e d

d i a g r a m s f o r the p o p u l a r , i n i t i a l v o c a t i o n a l c h o i c e s to i l l u s t r a t e the

t y p i c a l c h o i c e s m a d e w hen s t u d e n t s c h a n g e f r o m t h e i r i n i t i a l to o t h e r

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T a b l e 4

T h e R e l a t i o n of a C o l l e g e S t u d e n t ' s F i r s t V o c a t i o n a l C h o i c e _____ to H is V o c a t i o n a l C h o i c e 8 - 1 2 M o n th s L a t e r (Men)______

1 s t _____ ' ___________________________________ S e c o n d V o c a t i o n a l C h o ic eVC RIS R IE R E I IRS IR E IRA ISR ISA IER S R I SIE S E I S E A SAI C E R ESA E C R E C S EAS A SI A S E A E S

RIS 63 5 3 3 2 2 1 1 3 1 3 1R IE 2 179 11 2 22 3 4 1 2 1 2 1 3 2 2 2 13 1R E I 11 29 1 1 1 3 1 3

IRS 4 2 5 72 1 3 15 3 3 1 2 2 2 1 1IRE 6 49 2 213 15 6 6 4 4 1 2 5 4 10 2 1 2 3IRA 1 9 1 6 17 91 7 4 1 2 1 1 2 1 2 2 5 1ISR 6 4 1 9 5 8 103 7 3 9 9 3 2 5 4 1 2 2ISA 1 2 4 4 4 177 3 1 2 2 5 9 2 3 1 4 4 3 2 1IER 1 1 1 2 2 4 51 2 1 2 1 1 8 1

S R I 3 1 4 1 87 1 2 3 1 5 1 1 1SIE 1 1 1 1 1 9 52 5 10 4 4 3 2 1S E I 1 4 6 13 99 10 2 1 3 3 2 4 1 2S E A 1 1 1 5 3 22 4 5 1 7 1SAI 1 1 3 1 2 37 1 1 3 2

CE R 1 2 2 2 1 73 3 18 4 1

ESA 1 2 1 1 2 4 7 1 1 24 1 3 12 1 1E C R 1 1 2 1 1 13 12 2E C S 6 1 1 2 1 1 1 1 4 1 2 10 21 102 7 2EAS 5 3 5 4 1 3 7 2 6 109 2 2

ASI 1 1 2 1 3 2 3 1 2 44 17 4ASE 1 1 2 6 2 4 2 1 6 35A E S 1 2 1 1 3 1 21

N o te . - - S t u d e n t s w ho w e r e " u n d e c i d e d " (N = 545), g a v e u n c l a s s i f i a b l e r e s p o n s e s (N = 152), o r s u b g r o u p s w i t h Ns l e s s t h a n 50 (N - 454) w e r e o m i t t e d to r e d u c e the s i z e of t h i s t a b l e .

Page 16: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

T ab le 5

T h e R e l a t i o n of a C o l l e g e S t u d e n t ' s F i r s t V o c a t i o n a l C h o ic e to H is V o c a t i o n a l C h o ic e 8 - 1 2 M o n th s L a t e r (W om en)

1s tVC

S e c o n d V o c a t i o n a l C h o ic eISC ISA IAR IAS SIA S C E SCA S E A SAI S A E CSE A S I A SE UNC ? N

ISC 28 1 14 1 2 1 5 2 1 9 64ISA 4 109 14 1 2 3 24 52 8 5 3 1 1 236LAR 1 4 5IAS 5 1 1 2 2 2 1 3

SIA 10 18 121 4 2 1 8 50 1 2 1 6 3 227S C E 46 20 10 2 1 79SCA 18 79 2 11 1 2 3 7 123S E A 1 3 1 28 2 27 1 1 2 4 70SAI 1 2 6 3 8 3 258 73 1 3 14 2 12 386SAE 2 13 8 4 17 33 41 2036 4 29 54 27 89 2357

CSE 2 1 4 1 4 15 27

ASI 1 2 3 2 2 30 107 22 7 15 191ASE 3 1 1 1 6 47 13 107 7 19 205

UNC 2 2 1 2 1 2 25 3 2 17 5 62

? 3 6 8 5 5 4 21 75 2 .7 15 13 52 21 6

N 49 157 5 5 175 92 142 78 367 244 5 30 176 224 90 226 42 61

N o t e . - - " U N C " = u n c l a s s i f i a b l e r e s p o n s e ; "? " = u n d e c i d e d .

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-13 -

o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e s . E x a m i n i n g the t a b l e s in the a p p e n d i x w i l l

p r o v i d e a v iv id a c c o u n t of p a t t e r n s of c h a n g e in o c c u p a t i o n a l p r e f e r e n c e s .

In g e n e r a l , T a b l e s 4 an d 5 s t r o n g l y s u g g e s t th a t s t u d e n t s t e n d

to r e m a i n in the s a m e m a j o r o c c u p a t i o n a l c l a s s e v e n if t h e y c h a n g e

t h e i r p r e f e r e n c e . And if s t u d e n t s m o v e to a n o t h e r m a j o r c l a s s , they

p r e f e r a r e l a t e d m a j o r c l a s s . F o r i n s t a n c e , m a l e s t u d e n t s w i th R e a l ­

i s t i c c h o i c e s , if they c h a n g e , c h a n g e m o s t f r e q u e n t l y to I n t e l l e c t u a l

c h o i c e s ; I n t e l l e c t u a l c h o i c e s f r e q u e n t l y b e c o m e R e a l i s t i c c h o i c e s ; S o c i a l

c h o i c e s b e c o m e E n t e r p r i s i n g c h o i c e s , e t c . In a d d i t io n , s o m e k inds

of c h a n g e s a r e r a r e o r do n o t o c c u r a t a l l . F o r e x a m p l e , m a l e

s t u d e n t s w i t h i n i t i a l A r t i s t i c c h o i c e s n e v e r s e l e c t a C o n v e n t i o n a l o c c u ­

p a t i o n a s a s e c o n d c h o ic e ; s t u d e n t s w i t h S o c i a l c h o i c e s r a r e l y s e l e c t

C o n v e n t i o n a l o r R e a l i s t i c c h o i c e s , e t c .

To e x a m i n e w h e t h e r o r no t a s t u d e n t ' s v o c a t i o n a l c h o i c e s a r e

r e l a t e d and to w h a t d e g r e e the y a r e r e l a t e d , s p e c i a l s u m m a r y T a b l e s

6 an d 7 w e r e p r e p a r e d f o r m e n an d w o m e n . T h e s e t a b l e s w e r e p r e ­

p a r e d by r e o r g a n i z i n g and s u m m a r i z i n g the i n f o r m a t i o n in the o r i g i n a l

s u m m a r y t a b l e s .

T h e r e s u l t s f o r m e n in T a b l e 6 show th a t 50% s e l e c t the s a m e

o c c u p a t i o n on b o th o c c a s i o n s , 4% s e l e c t an o c c u p a t i o n in the s a m e

s u b g r o u p , 6% s e l e c t an o c c u p a t i o n in a c l o s e l y r e l a t e d s u b g r o u p , and

9% s e l e c t a r e m o t e l y r e l a t e d o c c u p a t i o n in the s a m e m a j o r c l a s s .

A l t o g e t h e r , a b o u t 69% of th e m e n ' s s u c c e s s i v e c h o i c e s a r e in the s a m e

m a j o r c l a s s . A n o t h e r 10% h a v e s e c o n d c h o i c e s b e lo n g in g to a " c l o s e l y

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-14-

Table 6

L a w f u l n e s s of a C o l l e g e S t u d e n t ' s S u c c e s s i v e V o c a t i o n a l C h o i c e s (Men)

S e c o n d V o c a t i o n a l C ho ice

1 s t R e l a t e d U n r e l a t e dVC S a m e m a j o r c l a s s M aj c l a s s M a i c l a s s Unc Und N

SO S S G CR R c r r U

RIS 58 5 5 3 5 3 11 2 8 100R IE 161 18 7 11 33 6 30 6 21 293RIA 22 * 6 0 4 1 3 0 2 38R ISE 0 * 0 0 0 1 1 0 2 4R E I 29 0 12 T * 5 7 5 3 61

IRS 67 5 6 20 6 5 12 1 11 133IRE 188 25 17 16 59 2 36 4 15 362IRAIRC+

83 8 27 12 11 1 22 7 15 186

I R C E 39 0 11 10 2 0 15 0 11 88IRSA 3 0 1 1 0 0 2 0 1 8ISR 89 14 7 37 9 14 34 7 28 239ISA 176 1 4 16 2 18 24 2 18 261IER 51 1 9 -T* 11 11 1 4 88IES 10 0 0 6 a

'P 4 3 0 1 24IAS 3 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 1 9

S R I 87 0 0 7 * 4 19 1 6 124SIE 50 2 0 31 1 2 14 2 7 109S E I 77 22 10 22 5 9 16 4 21 186SEA 19 3 3 12 5 8 6 3 6 65SEIA 1 # 1 2 0 0 4 1 0 9SAI 36 1 0 7 3 2 4 1 4 58SAE 6 1 3 0 0 3 1 2 16

CSE 4 * 0 0 a 0 3 1 1 9CER 73 6 1 24 6 12 1 11 134C E I 17 a .

T * 1 0 11 7 2 0 3 41

ESC 2 T * 3 4 2 1 0 2 1 15ESA 24 v U

■nr* 2 18 11 3 10 0 12 80E C R 10 3 13 0 2 1 7 1 2 39E C I 6 2 10 2 3 0 7 0 4 34ECS 90 12 27 11 11 0 24 5 21 201EAS 109 * 3 21 2 2 21 0 10 168E A C 2 * 1 4 0 0 4 0 4 15

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- 1 5 -

T a b l e 6 c o n ' t .

1 s t VC SO S S G CR R c r r U U nc Und N

AIS 14 1 0 3 0 1 4 1 2 26A SI 43 1 17 7 4 6 10 2 5 95A SE 34 1 6 0 2 15 4 2 8 72A E S 21 * 0 4 1 1 4 0 5 36A E I 0 % 0 3 0 1 0 0 0 4

T o t a l 1704 124 196 315 218 140 394 63 276 3430

%/N 50 4 6 9 6 4 11 2 8 100

*A n i m p o s s i b l e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n b e c a u s e no s u c h c o m b i n a t i o n is i n ­c l u d e d in the c u r r e n t c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s c h e m e . T h e a d d i t i o n of m o r e o c c u p a t i o n s w o u ld r e m e d y th i s d e f e c t .

N o te . T h e h e a d i n g s in T a b l e 6 a r e i n t e r p r e t e d a s fo l l o w s : "SO" =

s t u d e n t s who p r e f e r the s a m e o c c u p a t i o n in the f i r s t and s e c o n d s u r v e y s .

"SSG " = s t u d e n t s w h o s e v o c a t i o n a l c h o i c e s f a l l on bo th o c c a s i o n s in the s a m e

o c c u p a t i o n a l s u b g r o u p s u c h a s ISA and ISA. " C R " = s t u d e n t s w h o s e c h o i c e s

b e l o n g to " c l o s e l y r e l a t e d " s u b g r o u p s in the s a m e m a j o r o c c u p a t i o n a l

c l a s s ; t h a t i s , a s t u d e n t ' s f i r s t an d s e c o n d c h o i c e s b e lo n g to s u b g r o u p s

h a v i n g the f i r s t two l e t t e r s of t h e i r c o d e s in c o m m o n s u c h a s LAR and IAS.

" R " = s t u d e n t s w h o s e o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e s h a v e th e s a m e i n i t i a l l e t t e r

c o d e s u c h a s SIA a n d SEA . " c r " = s t u d e n t s w h o s e c h o i c e s b e lo n g to c l o s e l y

r e l a t e d m a j o r o c c u p a t i o n a l c l a s s e s s u c h a s SIA and ISE. T h e f i r s t two

l e t t e r s of a s t u d e n t ' s c o d e d o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e s a r e s i m p l y r e v e r s e d . " r "

= a l l o t h e r s w h o s e i n i t i a l l e t t e r co d e is the s a m e a s the r e l a t e d m a j o r c l a s s .

F i n a l l y , "U " = s t u d e n t s w h o s e f i r s t and s e c o n d v o c a t i o n a l c h o i c e s f a i l to

m e e t a n y of the above c r i t e r i a of " r e l a t e d n e s s , " and a r e c l a s s i f i e d a s " u n r e l a t e d .

" U n c " = s t u d e n t s w h o s e s e c o n d c h o i c e s w e r e u n c l a s s if a b l e . "U n d " =

s t u d e n t s w h o s e s e c o n d r e s p o n s e w a s " u n d e c i d e d . "

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-1 6 -

r e l a t e d " o r " r e l a t e d " s u b g r o u p In a r e l a t e d m a j o r c l a s s . P u t a n o t h e r

w ay , 79% of the m e n i n d i c a t e s u c c e s s i v e v o c a t i o n a l c h o i c e s t h a t

a p p e a r r e l a t e d o r l a w fu l r a t h e r tha n r a n d o m . F i n a l l y , on ly 11%

a p p e a r u n r e l a t e d , and a n o t h e r 10% a r e u n c l a s s i f i a b l e o r u n d e c i d e d

upon the s e c o n d s u r v e y . F o r e x p l i c i t d e f in i t i o n s of the c a t e g o r i e s

u s e d to a s s e s s the r e l a t e d n e s s of a s t u d e n t ' s f i r s t and s e c o n d c h o i c e s ,

s e e the long fo o tn o te f o r T a b l e 6.

T h e r e s u l t s f o r w o m e n in T a b l e 7 p a r a l l e l t h o s e f o r m e n .

A b o u t 60% of the w o m e n s e l e c t the s a m e o c c u p a t i o n on bo th o c c a s i o n s ,

14% s e l e c t an o c c u p a t i o n in the s a m e s u b g r o u p , 5% s e l e c t an o c c u p a t i o n

in a c l o s e l y r e l a t e d s u b g r o u p , and 5% s e l e c t a r e m o t e l y r e l a t e d o c c u ­

p a t io n in the s a m e m a j o r c l a s s . A l t o g e t h e r , 84% of the w o m e n ' s

s u c c e s s i v e o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e s b e lo n g to the s a m e m a j o r o c c u p a t i o n a l

c l a s s . A n o t h e r 9% s e l e c t e d " c l o s e l y r e l a t e d " o r " r e l a t e d ” o c c u p a t i o n s

in a r e l a t e d m a j o r g ro u p . And only 1% h a v e c l e a r l y u n r e l a t e d f i r s t

and s e c o n d c h o i c e s .

A s a l a s t s tep , a s e p a r a t e a n a l y s i s w a s m a d e u s in g only s t u d e n t s

w ho gave d i f f e r e n t c h o i c e s on bo th o c c a s i o n s . By e x c l u d in g the l a r g e

p r o p o r t i o n s of m e n and w o m e n who did n o t c h a n g e t h e i r v o c a t i o n a l

c h o i c e s (50 and 60 p e r c e n t ) , the c l a s s i f i c a t i o n w a s p u t to a m o r e

s e v e r e t e s t . F o r e a c h i n i t i a l c h o i c e , an e x p e c t e d f r e q u e n c y f o r c h o o s in g

the s a m e m a j o r c l a s s o r the r e l a t e d m a j o r c l a s s w a s c a l c u l a t e d . T h e s e

a n a l y s e s u s in g a s ig n t e s t (not shown) r e v e a l e d th a t the o b s e r v e d f r e ­

q u e n c i e s ( s a m e o r r e l a t e d m a j o r c l a s s ) e x c e e d e d the e x p e c t e d f r e q u e n c i e s

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-1 7 -

Tab le 7

L a w f u l n e s s of a C o l l e g e S t u d e n t ' s S u c c e s s i v e V o c a t i o n a l C h o i c e s (W omen)

1 s tVC

S e c o n d V o c a t i o n a l C h o ic e

S a m e m a j o r c l a s sR e l a t e d U n r e l a t e d

M a j c l a s s M a j c l a s s Unc Und NSO SSG CR R c r r U

I S C 28 1 0 14 9 3 0 9 64I S A 81 28 4 0 14 82 13 3 11 236I A R 4 0 1 * 0 0 0 0 5I A S 5 0 0 0 * 4 2 2 0 13

S I A 121 0 * 65 28 0 4 6 3 227S C E 41 5 20 10 2 0 1 0 79S C A 79 18 13 1 * 2 3 7 123S E A 20 8 * 34 * •A.

■ri* 2 2 4 70S A I 240 18 73 20 17 -i* 4 2 12 386S A E 1569 467 41 62 83 19 27 89 2357

C S E 15 «JU*T* * 4 5 3 0 0 27

A S I 89 18 22 32 7 1 7 15 191A S E 94 13 13 * 53 3 3 7 19 205

T o t a l 2386 557 192 205 248 110 56 60 169 3983

% /N 60 14 5 5 6 3 1 1 4 99

a t a r a t e w e l l b e y o n d the c h a n c e l e v e l (P<1 . 000001) f o r bo th s e x e s . We

c o n c l u d e th e n th a t the u s e of th i s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n i n c r e a s e s o u r p r e d i c t i v e

e f f i c i e n c y b e y o n d the l e v e l p r o v i d e d by s i m p l y a s s u m i n g t h a t the

m a j o r i t y of s t u d e n t s w i l l m a i n t a i n t h e i r i n i t i a l v o c a t i o n a l c h o ic e .

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-18-

D i s c u s s ion

A l th o u g h the r e s u l t s a r e s t r o n g e v i d e n c e f o r the i d e a t h a t

v o c a t i o n a l c h o i c e s of c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s a r e bo th l a w fu l and p r e d i c t a b l e ,

t h e r e is a n e e d f o r m u c h m o r e r e s e a r c h . O t h e r i n v e s t i g a t o r s n e e d

to a p p ly the c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s c h e m e u s e d h e r e to o t h e r s tu d e n t g r o u p s

f o r l o n g e r i n t e r v a l s of t i m e - - e s p e c i a l l y the p e r i o d f r o m f r e s h m a n to

s e n i o r y e a r - - t o l e a r n if the f in d in g s hold f o r l o n g e r p e r i o d s of t i m e .

B e c a u s e the r e s u l t s h inge on a p a r t i c u l a r c l a s s i f i c a t i o n w i th s p e c i f i c

d e f in i t i o n s of o c c u p a t i o n a l " r e l a t e d n e s s , " they r e q u i r e c r i t i c a l s c r u t i n y

by o t h e r s . T h e m a i n c l a s s e s m a y o r m a y n o t be too b r o a d l y d e f in e d

f o r p r a c t i c a l v a l u e in v o c a t i o n a l c o u n s e l i n g . S i m i l a r l y , the d e f i n i t i o n s

of " o c c u p a t i o n a l r e l a t e d n e s s " m a y be too l e n i e n t to be he lp fu l . T h e s e

and o t h e r q u e s t i o n s can only be r e s o l v e d by t r y i n g out the c l a s s i f i c a t i o n

to s e e how w e l l it w o r k s f o r d i f f e r e n t p u r p o s e s .

D e s p i t e t h e s e r e s e r v a t i o n s , the f i n d i n g s a p p e a r c o n g r u e n t w i th

s e v e r a l r e l a t e d s t u d i e s . In t h r e e e a r l i e r l o n g i tu d in a l s t u d i e s f o r one , two,

and f o u r - y e a r i n t e r v a l s , H o l la n d (1962, 1963, 1964) found th a t the

m a j o r i t y of s t u d e n t s gave o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e s b e lo n g in g to the s a m e

o r r e l a t e d o c c u p a t i o n a l c l a s s . In a r e c e n t l o n g i tu d in a l s tudy of c o l l e g e

s t u d e n t s , A s t in (in p r e s s ) c o n c l u d e s th a t " p a t t e r n s of c h a n g e in c a r e e r

c h o ic e . . . a r e no t r a n d o m . In g e n e r a l , t h o s e s t u d e n t s who c h a n g e t h e i r

p l a n s t e n d to c h a n g e to f i e l d s th a t a r e r e l a t e d to t h e i r i n i t i a l c h o i c e . "

I t sh o u ld be p o in t e d ou t , h o w e v e r , tha t A s t i n found l e s s " r e l a t e d n e s s "

b e t w e e n a s t u d e n t ' s o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e a s a f r e s h m a n an d a s a s e n i o r

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-19-

t h a n w e found in the p r e s e n t s tudy . In a m o r e r e m o t e l y r e l a t e d s tudy,

R o e (1966) c l a s s i f i e d the jo b c h a n g e s f o r a s a m p l e of 804 m e n and found

th a t 68% r e m a i n e d in the s a m e o c c u p a t i o n a l c l a s s d u r i n g t h e i r c a r e e r s .

A l th o u g h R o e ' s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n d i f f e r s f r o m H o l l a n d ' s , R o e ’s r e s u l t s

r e i n f o r c e the h y p o t h e s i s tha t the s u c c e s s i v e o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e s of

s t u d e n t s and o l d e r a d u l t s a r e l a w fu l an d p r e d i c t a b l e . W i th sk i l l fu l

r e v i s i o n s of c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s c h e m e s and m o r e w o r k , a c l e a r k n o w le d g e

of a p e r s o n ' s o c c u p a t i o n a l a m b i t i o n s and w o r k h i s t o r y a p p e a r s w i th in

o u r r e a c h .

A s s u m i n g th a t o t h e r i n v e s t i g a t i o n s r e i n f o r c e the r e s u l t s , s e v e r a l

p r a c t i c a l a p p l i c a t i o n s a p p e a r p l a u s i b l e and d e s i r a b l e . O c c u p a t i o n a l m a p s ,

l i k e F i g u r e s 1 and 2, bu t in g r e a t e r d e t a i l , cou ld be p r e p a r e d to show

s t u d e n t s who w i s h to c h a n g e f i e l d s s o m e of the c o m m o n a l t e r n a t i v e s

t a k e n by o t h e r s t u d e n t s . S u c h m a p s m i g h t be e s p e c i a l l y u s e f u l b e c a u s e

they w o u ld r e d u c e the a m b i g u i t y and d i f f i c u l ty of the s e a r c h fo r s u i t a b l e

a l t e r n a t i v e s . O c c u p a t i o n a l m a t e r i a l s in c o u n s e l i n g c o u ld a l s o be a r r a n g e d

in t e r m s of the p r e s e n t c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s c h e m e and in t e r m s of the

p o p u l a r s t u d e n t c h a n g e s in o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e . O c c u p a t i o n a l m a p s

c o u ld be u s e d in f r e s h m e n o r i e n t a t i o n p r o g r a m s and in c a r e e r o r i e n t a t i o n

c o u r s e s to p r o v i d e a h e lp fu l u n d e r s t a n d i n g of the o c c u p a t i o n a l w o r l d and

to s u g g e s t a l t e r n a t i v e s c l o s e l y r e l a t e d to a s t u d e n t ' s i n i t i a l c h o ic e .

A l th o u g h s u c h u s e s of t h i s r e s e a r c h a r e r e m o t e a t p r e s e n t , the y a r e

p r o m i s i n g f o r e x p e r i m e n t a l p r o g r a m s and new s t u d i e s .

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-2 0 -

R e f e r e n c e s

A s t i n , A. W. , & P a n o s , R. J . T h e e d u c a t i o n a l and v o c a t i o n a l d e v e l o p ­m e n t of A m e r i c a n c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s . A m e r i c a n C o u n c i l on E d u c a t i o n , in p r e s s .

H o l land , J. L. S o m e e x p l o r a t i o n s of a t h e o r y of v o c a t i o n a l c h o i c e : I. O n e - and t w o - y e a r l o n g i tu d in a l s t u d i e s . P s y c h o l o g i c a l M o n o g r a p h s , 1962, 76, 2 6 (Whole No. 545).

H o l land , J . L. S o m e e x p l o r a t i o n s of a t h e o r y of v o c a t i o n a l c h o i c e and a c h i e v e m e n t : II. A f o u r - y e a r p r e d i c t i o n s tu dy . P s y c h o l o g i c a l R e p o r t s , 1963, 12, 5 4 5 -5 9 4 .

H o l la n d , J . L. E x p l o r a t i o n s of a t h e o r y of v o c a t i o n a l c h o i c e : V. A o n e - y e a r p r e d i c t i o n s t u d y . M o r a v i a , New Y o r k : C h r o n i c a l G u id a n c e P r o f e s s i o n a l S e r v i c e , 1964.

H ol land , J . L. T h e p s y c h o l o g y of v o c a t i o n a l c h o i c e : A t h e o r y of p e r s o n ­a l i t y ty p e s and e n v i r o n m e n t a l m o d e l s . W a l t h a m , M a s s . : B l a i s d e l l ,1 966a .

H o l land , J . L. A p s y c h o l o g i c a l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s c h e m e fo r v o c a t i o n s and m a j o r f i e l d s . J o u r n a l of C o u n s e l i n g P s y c h o l o g y , 1966b, 13, 278 -288.

H ol land , J. L. M a n u a l f o r the V o c a t i o n a l P r e f e r e n c e I n v e n t o r y (6th r e v . ) P a l o Alto : C a l i f o r n i a C o n s u l t i n g P s y c h o l o g i s t s P r e s s , 1967.

R i c h a r d s , J. M. , J r . , H o l land , J. L-. , L u tz , S. W. T h e p r e d i c t i o n of s tu d e n t a c c o m p l i s h m e n t in c o l l e g e . J o u r n a l of E d u c a t i o n a l P s y c h o l o g y , 1967, 58, 3 4 3 -3 5 5 .

R oe , A. , H u b b a r d , W. D. , H u tc h i n s o n , T. , B a t e m a n , T. S t u d i e s of o c c u p a t i o n a l h i s t o r y . P a r t I: J ob c h a n g e s and the c l a s s i f i c a t i o n of o c c u p a t i o n s . J o u r n a l of C o u n s e l i n g P s y c h o l o g y , 1966, 13,3 8 7 -3 9 3 .

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-2 1 -

A P P E N D I X

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Page 27: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

P a t t e r n s of O c c u p a t i o n a l C h a n g e

In the fo l low ing d i a g r a m s , the l i n e s i n d i c a t e how a s t u d e n t ' s

i n i t i a l o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e is fo l lo w e d by th e s a m e o r r e l a t e d

o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e s a b o u t 8 to 12 m o n t h s l a t e r .

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I II

I

Page 29: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

1. M en

I n t e l l e c t u a l - R e a l i s t i c - E n t e r p r i s i n g (IN T - R E A L - E N T )(N = 362)

M i l i t a r y s e r v i c e , a e r o n a u t i c a l , c h e m i c a l , e l e c t r i c a l g e n e r a l e n g i n e e r i n g

I N T - R E A L - E N T59%(N = 213)

R E A L - I N T - E N T 14%(N = 49)

f a r m i n g , c iv i l , m e c h . &r in d u s . e n g i n e e r i n g

I N T - R E A L - a r t E N T - c o n - s o c4% 3%(N = 15) (N = 10)

c h e m i s t r y , p h y s i c s m a n a g e m e n t , g eo lo g y , a s t r o n o m y , m a r k e t i n g g e o p h y s i c s , a s t r o ­p h y s i c s , eng in . s c i e n c e

O t h e r2 1 %

(N = 75)

E n t e r p r i s i n g - C o n v e n t i o n a l - S o c i a l (EN T - C O N - S O C ) (N = 201)

M a n a g e m e n t , m a r k e t i n g

E N T - C O N - S O C51%(N = 102)

E N T - C O N - r e a l1 0 %(N - 21)

p u r c h a s i n g , s a l e s

C O N - E N T - r e a l5%(N - 10)

a c c o u n t i n g

E N T - a r t - S O C3%(N = 7)

law

O th e r30%

(N = 61)

-23

-

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F i g u r e 1 c o n ' t .

R e a l i s t i c - I n t e l l e c t u a l - S o c i a l (REA L - INT -SOC)(N - 100)

I n d u s t r i a l a r t s e d u c a t i o n , f o r e s t r y , t r a d e & i n d u s t r i a l e d u c a t i o n

R E A L - I N T - S O C 63%

(N = 63)

R E A L - I N T - e n t R E A L - e n t - I N T5% 3%

(N - 5) (N = 3)f a r m i n g , m e c h . , a g r i c . s c i e n c e i n d u s . , c iv i l e n g i n e e r i n g

I N T - R E A L . S O C3%

(N = 3) o c e a n o g r a p h y , v e t . s c i e n c e ,

SOC - e n t - a r t 3%

(N - 3) c o u n s e l i n g k gu id . , i n d u s . & p e r s o n n e l

b i o c h e m . , b o ta n y , p s y c h . , f o r e i g nzoo logy s e r v . , g e n e r a l

& o t h e r ed. s p e c .R e a l i s t i c - I n t e l l e c t u a l - E n t e r p r i s ing ( R E A L - I N T - E N T )

(N = 293)F a r m i n g , c iv i l e n g i n e e r i n g , i n d u s t r i a l e n g i n e e r i n g , m e c h a n i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g

R E A L - I N T - E N T 61%

(N - 179)

I N T - R E A L - E N T8 %

(N - 22) m i l i t a r y s e r v . ,

E N T - c o n - s o c 4%

(N = 13) m a n a g e m e n t ,

a e r o n a u t i c a l , c h e m . , m a r k e t i n g e l e c t r i c a l , g e n e r a l

o t h e r eng in .

R E A L - E N T - I N T4%

(N = 11) a g r i c u l t u r a l s c i e n c e

O t h e r23%

(N = 68)

I n t e l l e c t u a l -R e a l is t i c - S o c i a l (INT - R E A L -S O C )(N = 133)

O c e a n o g r a p h y , v e t e r i n a r y s c i e n c e , b o ta n y , b i o c h e m i s t r y , zoo logy

I N T - R E A L - S O C54%

(N = 72)

I N T - S O C - R E A L11%

(N - 15) b io l o g y , m a t h . ed. n a t . s c i e n c e educ . o t h e r b i o l o g i c a l s c i . f i e l d s

R E A L - e n t - I N T4%

(N - 5) a g r i c u l t u r a l s c i e n c e

R E A L - I N T - SOC 3%

(N - 4) i n d u s t r i a l a r t s e d u c . , fo r e s t r y ,t r a d e & in d u s . educ .

O t h e r28%

(N = 37)

O t h e r23%

(N = 23)

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Page 31: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

F i g u r e 1 c o n ' t .

S o c i a l - R e a l i s t i c - I n t e l l e c t u a l ( S O C - R E A L - I N T )(N = 124)

P h y s i c a l e d u c a t i o n , r e c r e a t i o n & h e a l t h , e d u c a t i o n of e x c e p t i o n a l c h i l d r e n

S O C - R E A L - I N T70%

(N = 87)

e n t - c o n - S O C4%

(N - 5) m a n a g e m e n t , m a r k e t i n g

I N T - S O C - R E A L R E A L - I N T - S O C3% 2%

(N = 4) (N = 3)m a t h educ . , n a t . f o r e s t r y , t r a d e &

I N T - a r t - S O C2 %

(N = 3) p h y s i c a l t h e r a p y ,

s c i . e d u c . , b io logy , i n d u s . ed u c . , i n d u s . a n t h r o p o l o g y o t h e r b io lo g . f i e l d s a r t s e d u c a t i o n

S o c i a l - I n t e l l e c t u a l - E n t e r p r i s i n g (SOC - I N T - E N T )(N = 109)

S o c i a l w o r k , e l e m e n t a r y e d u c a t i o n , e x p e r i m e n t a l & g e n e r a l p s y c h o l o g y

S O C - I N T - E N T 48%

(N = 52)

S O C - E N T - a r t9%

(N - 10) e d u c . , g e n e r a l & o t h e r s p e c . , c o u n -

SOC - r e a l - INT 8 %

(N = 9)p h y s . ed u c . , h e a l t h & r e c . , e d u c . of

s e l i n g & gu id . , i n d u s . e x c e p t . c h i l d r e n & p e r s o n n e l p s y c h , f o r e i g n s e r v .

S O C - E N T - I N T5%

(N = 5) h i s t o r y , h i s t o r y ed u c . , ed u c . p s y c h .

O t h e r30%

(N = 33)

S o c i a l - E n t e r p r i s i n g - I n t e l l e c t u a l ( S O C - E N T - I N T )(N = 186)

H i s t o r y , h i s t o r y e d u c a t i o n , e d u c a t i o n p s y c h o l o g y

S O C - E N T - I N T53%

(N - 99)

S O C - I N T - E N T 7%

(N = 13) e l e m . ed u c . , exp . &gen. p s y c h . , s o c i a l w o r k

S O C - E N T - a r t5%

(N = 10) gen . & o t h e r e d u c . , c o u n s e l i n g & g u i d . , i n d u s . ^ p e r s o n n e l p s y c h . , f o r e i g n s e r v i c e

SOC - r e a l - I N T 3%

(N = 6) p h y s . e d u c . , r e c . & h e a l t h , ed u c . of e x c e p t , c h i l d r e n

O t h e r31%

(N = 58)

O th e r 18%

(N = 22)

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F i g u r e 1 c o n ' t .

I n t e l l e c t u a l - R e a l i s t i c - A r t i s t i c (INT - R E A L - A R T)(N - 186)

G e o lo g y , g e o p h y s i c s , , a s t r o n o m y , a s t r o p h y s i c s , c h e m i s t r y , p h y s i c s , e n g i n e e r i n g s c i e n c e

I N T - R E A L - A R T49%

(N = 91)

INT - R E A L - en t 9%

(N = 17)

R E A L - I N T - e n t5%

(N = 9)m i l i t a r y s e r v . , f a r m i n g , m e c h . ,c h e m . , e l e c . , a e r o . , i n d u s . , c iv i l g e n e r a l &: o t h e r e n g i n e e r i n ge n g i n e e r i n g

I N T - s o c - R E A L O t h e r4% 33%

(N - 7) (N = 62)m a t h e d u c . , na t . s c i . ed u c . , b io logy , o t h e r b i o l o g i c a l f i e l d s

I n t e l l e c t u a l - S o c i a l -R e a l i s t i c ( I N T - S O C - R E A L )(N - 239)

M a t h e m a t i c s e d u c a t i o n , n a t u r a l s c i e n c e e d u c a t i o n , b io lo g y , o t h e r b i o l o g i c a l f i e l d s

I N T - S O C - R E A L43%

(N = 103)

I N T - R E A L - S O C 4%

(N - 9)o c e a n o g r a p h y , bo ta ny , zoo logy , b i o c h e m . , ve t . s c i e n c e

I n t e l l e c t u a l - S o c i a l - A r t i s t i c (INT - S O C - A R T )(N = 261)

M e d i c i n e , o t h e r h e a l t h f i e l d s

I N T - R E A L - c o n4%

(N = 10) m a t h , s t a t . , m e t a l l u r g i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g

S O C - R E A L - I N T 4%

(N = 9)p h y s . ed u c . , r e c . &t h e a l t h , e d u c . of e x c e p t , c h i l d r e n

SOC - INT - en t 4%

(N - 9) e l e m . e d u c . , exp.& g e n e r a l p s y c h . , s o c i a l w o r k

I N T - S O C - A R T 68%

(N = 177)

S O C - A R T - I N T S O C - e n t - A R T3% 2%

(N - 9) (N - 5)th e o lo g y , r e l i g i o n , g e n e r a l & o t h e r c l i n i c , p s y c h . , gen . e d u c . , c o u n s e l i n g s o c i a l s c i e n c e & guid . , i n d u s . &

p e r s o n n e l p s y c h . , f o r e i g n s e r v .

I N T - S O C - r e a l2 %

(N = 4) m a t h e d u c . , n a t .

O t h e r41%

(N = 99)

I N T - r e a l - A R T O t h e r2% 24%

(N = 4 ) (N = 62)g eo lo g y , g e o p h y s i c s ,

s c i . ed u c . , b io lo g y , a s t r o n o m y , c h e m . , o t h e r bio . f i e l d s p h y s i c s , a s t r o p h y s i c s ,

e n g i n e e r i n g sc i .

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Page 33: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

F i g u r e 1 c o n ' t .

C o n v e n t i o n a l - E n t e r p r i s i n g - R e a l i s t i c ( C O N - E N T - R E A L ) (N = 134)

A c c o u n t i n g

C O N - E N T - R E A L54%

(N = 73)

E N T - C O N - s o c13%

(N = 18) m a n a g e m e n t , m a r k e t i n g

C O N - E N T - i n t4%

(N = 6) f i n a n c e

E N T - a r t - s o c 3%

(N = 4) law

O t h e r25%

(N = 33)

E n t e r p r i s i n g - A r t i s t i c - S o c i a l (EN T - A R T - S O C ) (N = 168)

Law

E N T - A R T - S O C65%

(N = 109)

E N T - S O C - A R T4%

(N = 7) p o l i t . s c i e n c e

E N T - c o n - S O C4%

(N = 6) m a n a g e m e n t , m a r k e t i n g

S O C - E N T - i n t3%

(N - 5) h i s t o r y , h i s t o r y educ . , ed. p s y c h .

in t - r e a l - E N T 3%

(N = 5) a e r o n a u t i c a l , c h e m . , e l e c . , gen . & o t h e r e n g i n e e r , m i l i t a r y s e r v .

O t h e r2 1 %

(N = 36)

A r t i s t i c - S o c i a l - I n t e l l e c t u a l ( A R T - S O C - INT)(N = 95)

S p e e c h , g e n e r a l h u m a n i t i e s , p h i l o s o p h y , E n g l i s h , c r e a t i v e w r i t i n g , a r t e d u c a t i o n , m u s i c e d u c a t i o n

A R T - S O C - I N T46%

(N = 44)

A R T - S O C - e n t18%

(N = 17) m u s i c , d r a m a , E n g . e d u c a t i o n

A R T - e n t - S O C4%

(N = 4) j o u r n a l i s m , r a d i o TV, c o m m u n i c a ­t i o n s

S O C - A R T - I N T3%

(N = 3) t h e o lo g y , r e l i g i o n , c l i n i c , p s y c h . , gen. s o c i a l s c i e n c e s

SOC - r e a l - E N T 3%

(N = 3) p h y s . e d u c . , h e a l t h &z r e c . , e d u c . of e x c e p t , c h i l d r e n

O t h e r 2 5%

(N = 24)

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Page 34: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

2. W o m en

S o c i a l - A r t i s t i c - E n t e r p r i s i n g (SOC - A R T - E N T )(N = 2357)

S p e e c h , e l e m e n t a r y &: s e c o n d a r y e d u c a t i o n , c o u n s e l i n g & g u i d a n c e , s o c io l o g y , h i s t o r y , p u b l i c r e l a t i o n s , a d v e r t i s i n g , la w , h o m e e c o n o m i c s , h o u s e w i f e , s o c i a l w o r k

S O C - A R T - E N T86%

(N = 2036)

A R T - S O C - E N T2 %

(N = 54) d r a m a , f o r . s e r v . , m u s i c ed. , m o d . f o r e i g n la n g . , o t h e r f in e &appl. a r t s , j o u r n a l i s m , r a d i o -

S O C - A R T - i n t2 %

(N = 41) d e n t i s t r y , n u r s . , o t h e r h e a l t h , c l i n ­i c a l , exp . &rgen. p s y c h . , p h y s . t h e r . t h e o lo g y , r e l i g i o n ,

TV, c o m m u n i c a t i o n s po l i . s c i . , g o v e r n . ,i n t e r n a t i o n a lr e l a t i o n s

S O C - E N T - A R T O t h e r1% 8 %

(N = 33) (N = 193)m a n a g e m e n t , s a l e s , p u r c h a s i n g , b u s . a d m i n . , ed u c . p s y c h .

S o c i a l - I n t e l l e c t u a l - A r t i s t i c (S O C - IN T - A R T )(N = 227)

P h a r m a c y , m e d i c a l t e c h n o lo g y , m a t h e m a t i c s e d u c a t i o n

S O C - I N T - A R T 53%

(N = 121)

S O C - A R T - e n t 2 2 %

(N = 50) h o m e e co n . , h sw f . , s p e e c h , l aw , s o c i ­o logy , h i s t o r y , coun .Stguid. , a d v e r t i s i n g , o t h e r b io . s c i . , p u b l i c r e l a t i o n s , n a t . s c i . e d u c . s o c i a l w o r k , e l e m .& s e c o n d a r y educ .

I N T - S O C - A R T8 %

(N - 18) m e d i c i n e , v e t . med . , b i o c h e m . , b io lo g y , c h e m . , zoo logy ,

IN T - S O C - con 4%

(N = 10) m a t h e m a t i c s , s t a t i s t i c s

O th e r12%

(N = 28)

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F i g u r e 2 c o n ' t .

S o c i a l - A r t i s t i c - I n t e l l e c t u a l ( S O C - A R T - I N T )(N = 386)

D e n t i s t r y , n u r s i n g , o t h e r h e a l t h f i e l d s , c l i n i c a l , g e n e r a l , & e x p e r i m e n t a l p s y c h o l o g y , p h y s i c a l t h e r a p y , t h e o lo g y , r e l i g i o n , g o v e r n m e n t , p o l i t i c a l s c i e n c e , i n t e r n a t i o n a l r e l a t i o n s

S O C - A R T - I N T67%

(N = 258)

A R T - S O C - e n t4%

(N = 14) d r a m a , f o r . s e r v . m u s i c ed. , m o d .

SOC - A R T - e n t 19%

(N = 73) h o m e e co n . , h sw f . , s p e e c h , l a w , s o c i ­o logy , h i s t o r y , coun . f o r e i g n l a n g . , oth. &guid. , a d v e r t i s i n g , f i n e & a p p l . a r t s , p u b l i c r e l a t i o n s , s o c . j o u r n a l i s m , r a d i o ­w o r k , e l e m . & sec . TV, c o m m u n i c a t i o n s e d u c a t i o n

S O C - c o n - A R T2 %

(N = 8)s e c r e t a r i a l s c i e n c e

O t h e r9%

(N = 33)

A r t i s t i c - S o c i a l - I n t e l l e c t u a l ( A R T - S O C - I N T )(N = 191)

A r t , m u s i c , a r t e d u c a t i o n , l i t e r a t u r e , E n g l i s h , c r e a t i v e w r i t i n g

A R T - S O C - I N T56%

(N - 107)

S O C - A R T - e n t1 6 %

(N = 30) h o m e e c o n . , h sw f . s p e e c h , l a w , s o c i -

A R T - S O C - e n t12%

(N = 22) d r a m a , f o r . s e r v . m u s i c ed. , m o d .

S O C - c o n - A R T2 %

(N = 3) s e c r e t a r i a l s c i e n c e

o logy , h i s t o r y , coun . f o r e i g n l a n g . , oth. &guid. , a d v e r t i s i n g , f ine & ap p l . a r t s , p u b l i c r e l a t i o n s , so c . j o u r n a l i s m , r a d i o ­w o r k , e l e m . & sec , TV, c o m m u n i c a t i o n s e d u c a t i o n

O th e r15%

(N = 29)

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F i g u r e 2 c o n ' t .

I n t e l l e c t u a l - S o c i a l - A r t i s t i c ( I N T - S O C - A R T )(N = 236)

M e d i c i n e , v e t e r i n a r y m e d i c i n e , b io lo g y , b i o c h e m i s t r y , zoo logy , o t h e r b i o l o g i c a l s c i e n c e s , c h e m i s t r y , n a t u r a l s c i e n c e e d u c a t i o n

O t h e r16%

(N = 37)

IN T -S O C - A R T 46%

(N = 109)

S O C - A R T - e n t2 2 %

(N = 52) h o m e e c o n . , hswf. s p e e c h , l aw , s o c i ­o logy , h i s t o r y , coun . &gen. p s y c h . , p h y s . k g u id . , a d v e r t i s i n g , t h e r . , t h e o lo g y , p u b l i c r e l a t i o n s , s o c . r e l i g i o n , po l i . s c i . , w o r k , e l e m . & s e c . g o v e r n . , i n t e r n a t . e d u c a t i o n r e l a t i o n s

S O C - A R T - I N T S O C - I N T - A R T10% 6 %

(N = 24) (N = 14)d e n t i s t r y , n u r s . , o th . p h a r m a c y , m e d . h e a l t h , c l i n i c a l , exp. t e c h n o lo g y , m a t h .

e d u c a t i o n

S o c i a l - C o n v e n t i o n a l - A r t i s t i c ( S O C - C O N - A R T ) (N = 123)

S e c r e t a r i a l s c i e n c e

S O C - C O N - A R T64%

(N = 79)

S O C - C O N - e n t15%

(N = 18) c l e r i c a l w o r k , o f f i c e w o r k , b u s i ­n e s s e d u c a t i o n

S O C - A R T - e n t 9%

(N = 11) h o m e e co n . , h sw f . , s p e e c h , l aw , s o c i ­o logy , h i s t o r y , coun . &guid. , a d v e r t i s i n g , p u b l i c r e l a t i o n s , soc . w o r k , e l e m . & sec . e d u c a t i o n

S O C - A R T - i n t O t h e r2 % 1 1 %

(N = 2 ) (N = 13)d e n t i s t r y , n u r s . , oth. h e a l t h , c l i n i c a l , exp.&gen. p s y c h . , p h y s . t h e r . , t h e o lo g y , r e l i g i o n , po l i . s c i . , g o v e r n . , i n t e r n a t . r e l a t i o n s

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F i g u r e 2 c o n ' t .

A r t i s t i c - S o c i a l - E n t e r p r i s i n g ( A R T - S O C - E N T )(N = 205)

M u s i c e d u c a t i o n , d r a m a , o t h e r f in e & a p p l i e d a r t s , m o d e r n f o r e i g n l a n g u a g e , j o u r n a l i s m , r a d i o - T V , c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , f o r e i g n s e r v i c e

A R T - S O C - E N T52%

(N = 107)

S O C - A R T - E N T23%

(N = 47) h o m e eco n . , h s w f . , s p e e c h , l aw , s o c i -

A R T - S O C - i n t6 %

(N = 13) a r t , a r t e d u c a t i o n , m u s i c , l i t e r a t u r e ,

o logy , h i s t o r y , coun. E n g l i s h , c r e a t i v e&guid. . a d v e r t i s i n g , w r i t i n gp u b l i c r e l a t i o n s , s o c .w o r k , e l e m . & s ec .e d u c a t i o n

SOC - A R T - i n t 3%

(N = 6) d e n t i s t r y , n u r s . , oth. h e a l t h , c l i n i c a l , exp . &gen. p s y c h . , p h y s . t h e r . , t h e o lo g y , r e l i g i o n , p o l i . s c i . , g o v e r n . , i n t e r n a t . r e l a t i o n s

O t h e r16%

(N = 32)

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Page 39: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

P o s t s c r i p t

A f t e r t h i s a r t i c l e w a s c o m p l e t e d , two a d d i t i o n a l q u e s t i o n s a r o s e :

(a) If R o e ' s o c c u p a t i o n a l c l a s s i f i c a t i o n , a c o m p a r a b l e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n , w e r e

a p p l i e d to th e s a m e d a t a , how w e l l w o u ld h e r s c h e m e o r d e r the d a t a ? And,

(b) if th e H o l l a n d and R o e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s w e r e a p p l i e d on ly to s t u d e n t s who

c h a n g e d t h e i r o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e , w o u ld t h e s e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s s t i l l p r e d i c t

th e c h a n g e s b e y o n d c h a n c e e x p e c t a n c y ? B e c a u s e 50% of th e m e n an d 60%

of th e w o m e n d id no t c h a n g e t h e i r o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e , a h ig h p e r c e n t a g e

of a c c u r a c y c a n be o b t a i n e d w i th o u t the u s e of a n y c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s c h e m e by

s i m p l y u s i n g th e i n i t i a l c h o i c e as the p r e d i c t e d c h o i c e .

R o e ' s C l a s s i f i c a t i o n

T h e a p p l i c a t i o n of R o e ' s s y s t e m to the d a t a r e p o r t e d e a r l i e r p r o d u c e d

T a b l e s A and B f o r m e n and w o m e n .

T o c o m p a r e th e r e l a t i v e e f f i c i e n c y of the H o l l a n d and R o e s c h e m e s ,

T a b l e s C and D w e r e p r e p a r e d f o r m e n and w o m e n . T h e s e t a b l e s show how

m a n y s t u d e n t s g a v e th e s a m e o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e on b o th o c c a s i o n s (SO),

how m a n y s t u d e n t s gave d i f f e r e n t c h o i c e s b e lo n g in g to the s a m e m a j o r o c c u ­

p a t i o n a l c l a s s (R), and how m a n y s t u d e n t s g a v e c h o i c e s b e lo n g in g to r e l a t e d

m a j o r c l a s s e s ( r ) . (By R o e ' s d e f in i t i o n r e l a t e d c l a s s e s a r e the tw o a d j a c e n t

c l a s s e s so t h a t III and V a r e r e l a t e d to IV; II and VIII a r e r e l a t e d to I, e t c . )

U n r e l a t e d v o c a t i o n a l c h o i c e s a r e a l l o t h e r p o s s i b i l i t i e s e x c e p t b e in g u n d e ­

c i d e d u p o n f o l l o w - u p . T h e s u m m a r y p e r c e n t a g e s a t th e b o t t o m of T a b l e s C

an d D m a k e i t c l e a r t h a t th e R o e s c h e m e o r d e r s the d a t a w i th a p p r o x i m a t e l y

Page 40: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

t h e s a m e d e g r e e of e f f i c i e n c y a s the H o l l a n d s c h e m e ( c o m p a r e T a b l e s C a n d

D w i th T a b l e s 6 a n d 7).

C h a n g e r s O n ly

T h e a p p l i c a t i o n of th e H o l l a n d and R o e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s to o n ly t h o s e

s t u d e n t s w ho c h a n g e d t h e i r v o c a t i o n a l c h o i c e s w a s a c c o m p l i s h e d in th e

fo l low ing w ay . F o r b o th c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s an d f o r e v e r y i n i t i a l v o c a t i o n a l

c h o i c e the fo l l o w in g c o m p u t a t i o n s w e r e p e r f o r m e d : t h e n u m b e r of s t u d e n t s

who c h a n g e d t h e i r o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e , the n u m b e r of p o s s i b l e r e l a t e d o c ­

c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e s f o r s t u d e n t s w i t h a g iv e n i n i t i a l c h o i c e in e a c h m a j o r c l a s s

(k - 1), t h e e x p e c t e d p e r c e n t a g e of r e l a t e d c h o i c e s ( the p o s s i b l e n u m b e r of

s a m e - c l a s s r e l a t e d c h o i c e s d iv i d e d by th e t o t a l n u m b e r of c h o i c e s in the

c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s c h e m e ) , th e a c t u a l n u m b e r of s t u d e n t s m a k i n g s a m e - c l a s s

r e l a t e d c h o i c e s , th e p e r c e n t a g e of s t u d e n t s w h o s e s e c o n d c h o i c e w a s r e ­

l a t e d to t h e i r f i r s t c h o i c e ( a c t u a l r e l a t e d N o v e r c h a n g e N), the n u m b e r of

o c c u p a t i o n s in the r e l a t e d o c c u p a t i o n a l c l a s s , t h e e x p e c t e d p e r c e n t a g e of

s t u d e n t s w i t h r e l a t e d c h o i c e s ( the n u m b e r of o c c u p a t i o n s in the r e l a t e d c l a s s

d iv i d e d by th e n u m b e r of p o s s i b l e c h o i c e s in th e e n t i r e c l a s s i f i c a t i o n ) , the

n u m b e r of s t u d e n t s m a k i n g r e l a t e d o c c u p a t i o n a l c h o i c e s in the r e l a t e d o c ­

c u p a t i o n a l c l a s s ( o r c l a s s e s in t h e c a s e of the R o e s c h e m e ) , th e p e r c e n t a g e

of s t u d e n t s w i th d i f f e r e n t c l a s s r e l a t e d c h o i c e s , and th e t o t a l e x p e c t e d and

a c t u a l f r e q u e n c i e s f o r t h e s a m e an d r e l a t e d c l a s s . T a b l e E i l l u s t r a t e s t h e s e

c o m p u t a t i o n s f o r a s i n g l e c l a s s in H o l l a n d ' s s c h e m e . S e p a r a t e t a b l e s f o r

b o th s e x e s and b o th c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s w e r e p r e p a r e d bu t a r e n o t p r e s e n t e d b e ­

c a u s e of t h e i r g r e a t s i z e .

Page 41: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

W h e n th e s i g n t e s t w a s a p p l i e d to t h e s e f o u r c o m p l e t e t a b l e s f o r m e n

and w o m e n u s i n g b o th c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s , t h e y r e v e a l e d t h a t b o th c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s

o r g a n i z e the d a t a f o r c h a n g e r s w e l l b e y o n d a c h a n c e l e v e l ; t h a t is , t h e a c t u a l

p e r c e n t a g e s u s u a l l y e x c e e d th e e x p e c t e d p e r c e n t a g e s . M o r e s p e c i f i c a l l y , the

o b t a i n e d p e r c e n t a g e s e x c e e d t h e e x p e c t e d p e r c e n t a g e s f o r the " S a m e M a j o r

C l a s s " w e l l b e y o n d th e . 005 l e v e l f o r b o th c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s . T h e r e s u l t h o ld s

f o r the to t a l e x p e c t e d and to t a l o b t a i n e d f r e q u e n c i e s , bu t the r e s u l t s f o r

" r e l a t e d m a j o r c l a s s " a r e no t s i g n i f i c a n t f o r e i t h e r c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s y s t e m ,

a l t h o u g h t h e s e i n s i g n i f i c a n t r e s u l t s c o n t r i b u t e p o s i t i v e l y , in the c a s e of

H o l l a n d ' s c l a s s i f i c a t i o n , to the t o t a l o b t a in e d f r e q u e n c y . T a b l e F p r o v i d e s

a s i m p l e s t a t e m e n t of th e r e l a t i v e e f f i c i e n c y of the tw o c l a s s i f i c a t i o n s w hen

a p p l i e d to c h a n g e r s . In t h i s i n s t a n c e , T a b l e F s u g g e s t s t h a t H o l l a n d ' s s c h e m e

is a m o r e e f f i c i e n t p r e d i c t i v e s c h e m e t h a n R o e ' s .

We c o n c l u d e th e n , t h a t f o r p r e d i c t i o n p u r p o s e s , e i t h e r s c h e m e is b e t t e r

t h a n no c l a s s i f i c a t i o n . H o l l a n d ' s a p p e a r s m o r e e f f i c i e n t , s u b j e c t to one

q u a l i f i c a t i o n . S ince H o l l a n d ' s s c h e m e w a s d e v e l o p e d f o r the p r e s e n t s a m p l e

of c o l l e g e s t u d e n t s , i t m a y e n jo y s o m e a d v a n t a g e . O n ly m a n y c o m p a r a t i v e

t e s t s of t h e s e s y s t e m s w i th d i f f e r e n t p o p u l a t i o n s f o r s e v e r a l p u r p o s e s w i l l

m a k e t h e i r u s e f u l n e s s an d r e l a t i v e v a l u e s e x p l i c i t .

Page 42: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

T o t

191

41

447

6 54

81

942

971

174

370

3871

T h e R e l a t i o n of a C o l l e g e S t u d e n t s ' F i r s t V o c a t i o n a l C h o i c e to H is V o c a t i o n a l

C h o ic e 8 - 1 2 M o n th s L a t e r U s i n g R o e ' s C l a s s i f i c a t i o n S c h e m e

T a b le A

( M en)

S e c o n d V o c a t i o n a l C h o ic e

II III IV V VI VII VIII U n d e c i d e d

1 11 6 2 13 26 1 12

10 18 2 0 1 3 1 6

31 297 3 1 11 46 3 48

2 33 456 8 45 34 10 50

0 3 1 50 13 5 0 9

5 56 21 22 616 85 13 94

11 49 15 3 45 664 16 112

4 2 6 0 9 25 111 13

11 53 19 5 42 73 11 143

75 522 529 91 795 961 166 487

Page 43: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

T a b l e B

T h e R e l a t i o n of a C o l l e g e S t u d e n t s ' F i r s t V o c a t i o n a l C h o i c e to H is V o c a t i o n a l

C h o ic e 8 - 1 2 M o n th s L a t e r U s i n g R o e ' s C l a s s i f i c a t i o n S c h e m e

(W o m e n )

S e c o n d V o c a t i o n a l C h o ic e

1 s t VC I II III IV V VI VII VIII U n d e c i d e d T o t a l

I 271 1 11 1 0 34 85 12 27 442

II 1 8 6 0 0 2 2 1 3 23

III 9 7 163 0 0 10 40 2 16 247

IV 2 0 1 4 0 0 1 3 3 14

V 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2

VI 74 2 34 5 1 535 1 50 13 51 865

VII 116 11 33 3 0 81 1866 30 121 2261

VIII 14 1 7 0 0 6 53 161 30 272

U n d e c i d e d 29 2 19 1 0 ■ 39 98 13 88 289

T o ta l 516 32 275 14 1 707 2296 235 339 441 5

Page 44: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

T ab le C

L a w f u l n e s s of a C o l l e g e S t u d e n t ' s S u c c e s s i v e V o c a t i o n a l C h o i c e s

U s i n g R o e ' s C l a s s i f i c a t i o n S c h e m e

(Men)

S e c o n d V o c a t i o n a l C h o ic e

I n i t i a l VC SO R r U n r e l a t e d U n d e c i d e d N

I 1 10 9 2 58 12 191

II 10 0 18 7 6 41

III 191 106 34 68 48 447

IV 333 123 41 107 50 654

V 50 0 14 8 9 81

VI 472 144 107 125 94 942

VII 457 207 61 134 112 971

VIII 87 24 29 21 13 174

T o t a l N 1710 613 306 528 344 3501

P e r c e n tN 49 18 09 15 10 100

N ote . T o t a l N is l e s s t h o s e w ho s t a r t e d a s " U n d e c i d e d " N = 370.

Page 45: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

L a w f u l n e s s of a C o l l e g e S t u d e n t ' s S u c c e s s i v e V o c a t i o n a l C h o i c e s

U s i n g R o e ' s C l a s s i f i c a t i o n S c h e m e

(W o m e n )

T ab le D

S e c o n d V o c a t i o n a l C h o ic e

I n i t i a l VC SO R r U n r e l a t e d Unde c id ed N

I 247 24 13 131 27 442

II 6 2 7 5 3 23

III 121 42 7 61 16 247

IV 4 0 1 6 3 14

V 0 0 0 2 0 2

VI 428 107 151 128 51 865

VII 1483 383 111 163 121 2261

VII 121 40 67 14 30 272

T o t a l N 2410 598 357 510 251 4126

P e r c e n tN 58 14 09 12 06 100

N ote . T o t a l N is l e s s t h o s e w ho s t a r t e d a s " U n d e c i d e d " N = 289.

Page 46: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

T a b l e E

T h e P r e d i c t i o n of C h a n g e f r o m H o l l a n d ' s C l a s s i f i c a t i o n f o r S t u d e n t s Who C h a n g e d T h e i r V o c a t i o n a l C h o ic e O v e r a 8 - 1 2 M o n th I n t e r v a l

(Men)

S a m e c l a s s R e l a t e d c l a s s T o ta l

R e a l i s t i cv o c a t i o n s

T o ta l N

T o t a l N

l e s s u n c l a s s

C h a n g eN

No. of r e l a t e d o c c u p .

k-1

A c t u a lE x p e c t e d , ,r e l a t e d

% nr e l a t e d

A c t u a lr e l a t e d

%

No. of r e l a t e d o c c u p .

k

E x p e c t e d%

r e l a t e d

A c t u a lr e l a t e d

N

A c t u a lr e l a t e d

%

A c t u a lE x p e c t e d

% %

I n d u s t r i a l a r t s e d u c a t i o n 32 29 10 9 1 1 .1 7 70. 0 29 35. 8 1 10. 0 46 . 9 80. 0

T r a d e & i n d u s ­t r i a l ed 13 12 6 9 1 1 .1 4 66. 7 29 35. 8 0 0. 0 46. 9 66. 7

F o r e s t r y 55 49 16 9 1 1 .1 2 12. 5 29 35. 8 7 43. 8 46 . 9 56. 3

C iv i l eng 124 114 47 9 11 .1 23 48 . 9 29 35. 8 13 27. 6 46 . 9 76. 5

F a r m i n g 26 23 6 9 1 1 .1 5 83. 3 29 35. 8 1 16. 7 4 6 . 9 1 0 0 . 0

M e c h eng 121 109 43 9 11 .1 6 14. 0 29 35. 8 22 51. 2 46. 9 65. 2

Indus eng 22 20 9 9 11 .1 2 22. 2 29 35. 8 3 33. 3 46 . 9 55. 5

A r c h i t e c t u r e 38 36 14 9 11 .1 6 42 . 8 29 35. 8 5 35. 0 46. 9 77. 8

G e o g r a p h y 4 2 2 9 1 1 .1 0 0. 0 29 35. 8 1 50. 0 46. 9 50. 0

A g r i c s c i 61 53 24 9 11 .1 12 50. 0 10 12. 3 5 20. 8 23. 4 70. 8

N o te , k is the n u m b e r of o c c u p a t i o n s in a m a j o r c l a s s . T h e n u m b e r of r e l a t e d o c c u p a t i o n s (and, h e n c e , the e x p e c t e d % r e l a t e d ) f o r " S a m e c l a s s " is i d e n t i c a l f o r a l l o c c u p a t i o n s w i t h i n a m a j o r c l a s s . S in c e the " R e l a t e d c l a s s " f o r e a c h o c c u p a t i o n is d e t e r m i n e d by the s e c o n d h i g h e s t V P I c o d e , the n u m b e r of d i f f e r e n t c l a s s r e l a t e d o c c u p a t i o n s (and r e s u l t i n g e x p e c t e d % r e l a t e d ) d i f f e r s f o r o c c u p a t i o n s w i th i n the s a m e m a j o r c l a s s . A r c h i t e c t u r e (RIA) an d A g r i c u l t u r e s c i e n c e (REI) i l l u s t r a t e t h i s d i f f e r e n c e .

Page 47: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

T h e A v e r a g e G a in B ey o n d C h a n c e f o r the

H o l la nd and Roe C l a s s i f i c a t i o n S y s t e m s

( " S a m e " P l u s " R e l a t e d " C l a s s e s )

H o l la n d Roe% %

Table F

M en

W o m e n

29. 6

21. 3

13. 8

10 . 8

Page 48: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

A C T R e s e a r c h R e p o r t s

T h i s r e p o r t is the t w e n t y - f i f t h in a s e r i e s p u b l i s h e d by the R e s e a r c h an d D e v e l o p m e n t D i v i s i o n of the A m e r i c a n C o l l e g e T e s t i n g P r o g r a m . The r e s e a r c h r e p o r t s h a v e b e e n d e p o s i t e d w i th th e A m e r ­i c a n D o c u m e n t a t i o n I n s t i t u t e , A D I A u x i l i a r y P u b l i c a t i o n s P r o j e c t , P h o t o d u p l i c a t i o n S e r v i c e , L i b r a r y of C o n g r e s s , W a s h in g t o n , D. C. 20540 . (ADI D o c u m e n t n u m b e r s a n d p r i c e s a r e g iv e n b e lo w . ) P h o t o ­c o p i e s an d 35 m m . m i c r o f i l m s a r e a v a i l a b l e a t c o s t f r o m ADI; o r d e r by A D I D o c u m e n t n u m b e r . A d v a n c e p a y m e n t is r e q u i r e d . M ak e c h e c k s o r m o n e y o r d e r s p a y a b l e to: C h ie f , P h o t o d u p l i c a t i o n S e r v i c e ,L i b r a r y of C o n g r e s s . P r i n t e d c o p i e s a r e a v a i l a b l e f r o m th e R e s e a r c h an d D e v e l o p m e n t D iv i s io n , A m e r i c a n C o l l e g e T e s t i n g P r o g r a m .

R e p o r t s p r e c e d e d by an a s t e r i s k (*) in the l i s t b e l o w a r e a v a i l ­a b l e on ly f r o m ADI.

*No. 1 A D e s c r i p t i o n of A m e r i c a n C o l l e g e F r e s h m e n , by C. A be ,J . L. H o l l a n d , S. W. L u t z , & J . M. R i c h a r d s , J r .(ADI D oc . 8554; pho to , $ 8 . 7 5 ; m i c r o f i l m , $ 3 . 0 0 )

*No. 2 A c a d e m i c and N o n a c a d e m i c A c c o m p l i s h m e n t : C o r r e l a t e d o rU n c o r r e l a t e d ? by J . L . H o l la n d , &■ J . M. R i c h a r d s , J r .(ADI D oc . 8555; pho to , $ 3 . 7 5 ; m i c r o f i l m , $ 2 . 0 0

*N o. 3 A D e s c r i p t i o n of C o l l e g e F r e s h m e n : I. S tu d e n t s w i th D i f f e r ­e n t C h o i c e s of M a j o r F i e l d , by C. A be , k. J . L . H o l l a n d (ADI D oc . 8556; pho to , $ 7 . 5 0 ; m i c r o f i l m , $ 2 . 7 5)

*No. 4 A D e s c r i p t i o n of C o l l e g e F r e s h m e n : II. S t u d e n t s w i th D i f f e r - e n t V o c a t i o n a l C h o i c e s , by C. A be , J . L . H o l l a n d (ADI D oc . 8557; pho to , $ 7 . 5 0 ; m i c r o f i l m , $ 2 . 7 5 )

*N o. 5 A D e s c r i p t i o n of J u n i o r C o l l e g e s , by J. M. R i c h a r d s , J r .L . M. R an d , & L . P . R a n d(ADI D oc . 8558; pho to , $ 3 . 7 5; m i c r o f i l m , $ 2 . 0 0 )

*N o. 6 C o m p a r a t i v e P r e d i c t i v e V a l i d i t i e s of the A m e r i c a n C o l l e g eT e s t s a n d Two O t h e r S c h o l a s t i c A p t i t u d e T e s t s , b y L. M u n d a y (ADI D oc . 8559; pho to , $ 2 . 5 0 ; m i c r o f i l m , $ 1 . 7 5 )

No. 7 T h e R e l a t i o n s h i p B e t w e e n C o l l e g e G r a d e s an d A d u l t A c h i e v e -m e n t : A R e v i e w of th e L i t e r a t u r e , by D. P . H oy t (ADI D oc . 8632; pho to , $ 7 . 5 0 ; m i c r o f i l m , $ 2 . 7 5 )

N o . 8 A F a c t o r A n a l y s i s of S tu d e n t ’’E x p l a n a t i o n s ! ' of T h e i r C h o i c eof a C o l l e g e , by J . M. R i c h a r d s , J r . J . L . H o l l a n d (ADI D oc . 8633; pho to , $ 3 . 7 5 ; m i c r o f i l m , $ 2 . 0 0 )

Page 49: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

A C T R e s e a r c h R e p o r t s ( c o n ' t . )

N o . 9 R e g i o n a l D i f f e r e n c e s in J u n i o r C o l l e g e s , by J . M. R i c h a r d s , J r . , L . P . R and , & L. M. R a n d(A DI Doc. 8743; pho to , $ 2 . 5 0 ; m i c r o f i l m , $ 1 . 7 5 )

N o. 10 A c a d e m i c D e s c r i p t i o n an d P r e d i c t i o n in J u n i o r C o l l e g e s, by D. P . Hoyt, & L». M u n d a y(ADI D oc . 8856; pho to , $ 3 . 7 5 ; m i c r o f i l m , $ 2 . 0 0 )

No. 11 T h e A s s e s s m e n t of S tu d e n t A c c o m p l i s h m e n t in C o l l e g e , by J . M. R i c h a r d s , J r . , J . L . H o l l a n d , & S. W. L u t z (ADI D oc . 8955; pho to , $ 3 . 7 5 ; m i c r o f i l m , $ 2 . 0 0 )

No. 12 A c a d e m i c an d N o n a c a d e m i c A c c o m p l i s h m e n t in a R e p r e s e n t a t i v e S a m p l e t a k e n f r o m a P o p u l a t i o n of 612, 0 0 , by J. L. H o l la nd ,& J. M. R i c h a r d s , J r .(ADI D oc . 8992: pho to , $ 3 . 7 5 ; m i c r o f i l m , $ 2 . 0 0 )

No. 13 T he P r e d i c t i o n of S tu d e n t A c c o m p l i s h m e n t in C o l l e g e , by J . M. R i c h a r d s , J r . , J . L , H o l l a n d , S. W. L u tz (ADI D oc . 9020; pho to , $ 5 . 0 0 ; m i c r o f i l m , $ 2 . 2 5 )

./ f'lNo. 14 C h a n g e s in S e l f - R a t i n g s and;7Life G o a l s A m o n g S tu d e n t s a t

C o l l e g e s w i th D i f f e r e n t C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , by R . W. S k a g e r ,J . L . H o l l a n d , L . A . B r a s k a m p(ADI D oc . 9069; pho to , $ 3 . 7 5 ; m i c r o f i l m , $ 2 . 0 0 )

No. 15 C a n C o m p u t e r s W r i t e C o l l e g e A d m i s s i o n s T e s t s ? by J . M. R i c h a r d s , J r .(ADI D oc . 9174; pho to , $ 2 . 5 0 ; m i c r o f i l m , $ 1 . 7 5 )

N o. 16 C h a n g e s in S e l f - R a t i n g s a n d L i fe G o a l s a s R e l a t e d to S tu d e n tA c c o m p l i s h m e n t in C o l l e g e , by R. W. S k a g e r , & L. A. B r a s k a m p (A DI D oc . 9214; pho to , $ 2 . 5 0 ; m i c r o f i l m , $ 1 . 7 5 )

N o . 17 F a m i l y I n c o m e an d the C h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of C o l l e g e - B o u n dS t u d e n t s , by L . L . B a i r d(ADI D oc . 9378; pho to , $ 3 . 7 5 ; m i c r o f i l m , $ 2 . 0 0 )

No. 18 P r e d i c t i n g a S t u d e n t ' s V o c a t i o n a l C h o i c e , by J . L H o l l a n d ,S. W. L u tz

(ADI D oc . 9433; pho to , $ 2 . 5 0 ; m i c r o f i l m , $ 1 . 7 5 )

N o . 19 T h e E d u c a t i o n a l G o a l s of C o l l e g e - B o u n d Youth , by L . L .B a i r d(ADI D oc . 9472: pho to , $ 5 . 0 0 ; m i c r o f i l m , $ 2 . 2 5 )

N o . 20 Who G oes W h e r e to J u n i o r C o l l e g e ? by J. M. R i c h a r d s , J r . ,L . A. B r a s k a m p

(ADI D oc . 9571; pho to , $ 3 . 7 5; m i c r o f i l m , $ 2 . 0 0 )

Page 50: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns

A C T R e s e a r c h R e p o r t s ( c o n ' t . )

No. 21 P r e d i c t i n g S tu d e n t A c c o m p l i s h m e n t in C o l l e g e f r o m the A C T A s s e s s m e n t , by J . M. R i c h a r d s , J r . , &: S. W. L u t z (ADI Doc. 9594; pho to , $ 6 . 2 5 ; m i c r o f i l m , $ 2 . 5 0 )

No. 22 T he U n d e c i d e d S tu d e n t : How D i f f e r e n t Is H e ? by L . L ,B a i r d(ADI D oc . 9812; pho to , $ 3 . 7 5; m i c r o f i l m , $ 2 , 0 0 )

No. 23 T h e E f f e c t s of S e l e c t i n g C o l l e g e S tu d e n t s by V a r i o u s K in d s ofH igh School A c h i e v e m e n t , by L . L . B a i r d &; J . M. R i c h a r d s , J r . (ADI D oc . No. not ye t a v a i l a b l e )

No. 24 Do T h e y Do W h a t T h e y Say T h e y W i l l D o ? by S. W, L u t z (ADI D o c . No. n o t y e t a v a i l a b l e )

Page 51: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns
Page 52: The ACT - Solutions for College and Career Readiness | ACT · This extension of an earlier study investigated the hypothesis that occupational choices follow orderly or lawful patterns