Back To Course
Holt Psychology Principles in Practice: Online Textbook Help22 chapters | 266 lessons
Vocational Interest Inventories: Definition, Pros & Cons
Instructor:
Christopher Muscato
Chris has a master's degree in history and teaches at the University of Northern Colorado.
Finding that perfect job is never easy. In this lesson, we'll talk about vocational interest inventories and see how these tests are designed to help students plan for their futures.
Vocational Interest Inventories
What is your dream?
What do you want to be when you grow up?
What's your ideal career? Why?
These are questions that some people spend their entire lives trying to answer. They ask themselves, ''What do I want to do?'' We all need to work, but we also want to enjoy our lives. It can be a tough balance if you're not in the right field.
Well, in an effort to help people find the careers that will make them the happiest, many high schools now administer some form of vocational interest inventory. A vocational interest inventory is a test used to help people identify their interests and the fields that match them. In some cases, they can also help outline a path to getting there, including desirable college majors or required work experience.
The goal is to help everyone answer that one question we've asked ourselves longer than nearly any other: What do I want to be?
How It Works
There are many types of vocational interest inventories out there and not all of them are reliable. Some just ask participants to list their interests, but don't have a consistent rubric for analyzing them.
The best vocational interest inventories are those that are rooted in psychological research, particularly the work of John Holland. Holland was a psychologist who researched personalities. He developed a theory that people in our culture fall into one of six vocational personalities, which is your personality as it applies to work habits.
The six personalities are:
- Realistic
- Investigative
- Artistic
- Social
- Enterprising
- Conventional
When people of similar vocational personalities work together, they create a work environment to meet their needs. Holland therefore described six workplace environments of the same names.
The best vocational interest inventories are designed to match people's vocational personalities with professions that occur in matching or complimentary workplace environments. Most of these tests have been designed by psychologists or statisticians and use a wide range of formulas to apply Holland's theories. Tests that are widely accepted as credibly applying Holland's personalities include the Self-Directed Search (designed by Holland himself), the Career Key, the Vocational Preference Inventory, the Strong Interest Inventory, the Campbell Interest and Skills Survey, and the UNIACT.
Pros and Cons
Like all forms of assessment, vocational interest inventories have their pros and cons. Let's start with the pros.
Many people find value in these tests because they can help students focus on their interests and prepare a plan for their future. Someone who takes a vocational interest test is never obligated to obey the results; it's not like you forfeit your ability to choose your own career path by taking the test. All that it is meant to do is to help people understand their interests and provide a framework for finding a career that is statistically likely to match their personalities. For many people, these tests do just that.
However, not everyone likes vocational interest inventories. These assessments are based purely on the test-takers answers and not on a professional psychologist's interpretation, which means that the results can be biased. Maybe the test-taker was dishonest about personality traits they are ashamed of or maybe they were demonstrating interest in a career because it's very prestigious or pays well, rather than it fitting their actual interests. Basically, there are many ways that the results can be skewed. Additionally, some people worry that giving the test to high school students encourages students to limit themselves, rather than experiment with a range of courses and career options.
Both supporters and detractors have valid reasons for their opinions, but nobody is claiming that vocational interest inventories should work equally well for everyone. If it works for you, use it. If not, then you'll have to find other ways to find that perfect career.
Lesson Summary
A vocational interest inventory is an assessment designed to help match a person's personality with a career that fits their interests.
The best tests are modeled on the research of psychologist John Holland, who developed his theories based around six vocational personalities and six workplace environments. Credible tests include the Self-Directed Search, the Career Key, the Vocational Preference Inventory, the Strong Interest Inventory, the Campbell Interest and Skills Survey, and the UNIACT.
Supporters of these tests say that they help students focus their interests and design a realistic career path, while detractors claim that the tests are too subject to error and may prevent students from exploring all of their options. It's a tough debate, but then again, finding that perfect job can be pretty tough.
To unlock this lesson you must be a Study.com Member.
Create your account
Register for a free trial
Are you a student or a teacher?
Unlock Your Education
See for yourself why 30 million people use Study.com
Become a Study.com member and start learning now.
Become a MemberAlready a member? Log In
BackEarning College Credit
Did you know… We have over 160 college courses that prepare you to earn credit by exam that is accepted by over 1,500 colleges and universities. You can test out of the first two years of college and save thousands off your degree. Anyone can earn credit-by-exam regardless of age or education level.
To learn more, visit our Earning Credit Page
Transferring credit to the school of your choice
Not sure what college you want to attend yet? Study.com has thousands of articles about every imaginable degree, area of study and career path that can help you find the school that's right for you.
You are viewing lesson
Lesson
4 in chapter 16 of the course:
- Psychological Test: Definition, Types & Examples 7:10
- Standardization and Norms of Psychological Tests 5:19
- Aptitude vs. Achievement: Definition & Test Types
- Vocational Interest Inventories: Definition, Pros & Cons
-
7:36
Next Lesson
Personality Tests: Objective & Projective Tests
- Strategy for Multiple Choice Questions 7:57
- Test Taking Strategies: True/False, Short Answer & Essay
- Overcoming Test Anxiety: Steps & Strategies
- Go to Holt Psychology - Principles in Practice Chapter 15: Psychological Tests
Vocational Interest Inventories: Definition, Pros & Cons Related Study Materials
- Computer Science 336: Network Forensics
- Computer Science 220: Fundamentals of Routing and Switching
- Global Competency Fundamentals & Applications
- Introduction to the Principles of Project Management
- Praxis Elementary Education: Reading & Language Arts - Applied CKT (7902): Study Guide & Practice
- Practical Applications for Marketing
- Practical Applications for HR Management
- Practical Applications for Organizational Behavior
- Analyzing Texts Using Writing Structures
- Understanding Arguments & Reasoning in Texts
- TASC Test Score Information
- What is the TASC Test?
- Praxis Prep Product Comparison
- GED Prep Product Comparison
- CBEST/CSET Prep Product Comparison
- ASVAB Prep Product Comparison
- GACE Prep Product Comparison
Latest Courses
- Teaching ELL Students to Read
- Technology Used in Reading Instruction
- Pectoralis Major: Action, Origin & Insertion
- Creating a Learner-Centered Classroom & Environment
- Practical Application: Assessing Soft & Hard Skills for Customer Service
- Business Case Study: Risk Management at Nokia vs. Ericsson
- Network Component Addressing: Types & Significance
- Positive Personal Outcomes of Global Competence
- Quiz & Worksheet - Reading Group Strategies
- Quiz & Worksheet - Integrated Reading Instruction
- Quiz & Worksheet - Writing Numbers in Standard Form
- Quiz & Worksheet - Methods for Teaching ELL Students
- Quiz & Worksheet - Professional Development Ideas for Teachers
- Flashcards - Measurement & Experimental Design
- Flashcards - Stars & Celestial Bodies
Latest Lessons
- Introduction to Psychology: Homework Help Resource
- High School Geometry: Help and Review
- AP Calculus AB & BC: Homework Help Resource
- ILTS Reading Teacher (177): Practice & Study Guide
- NY Regents Exam - Geometry: Test Prep & Practice
- Division
- GACE Middle Grades Math: The Coordinate Graph
- Quiz & Worksheet - Psychoneuroimmunology
- Quiz & Worksheet - The Sapir-Whorf Hypothesis
- Quiz & Worksheet - Impact of Walls, Roads & Bronze in History
- Quiz & Worksheet - Process of Cell Division
- Quiz & Worksheet - Las Casas, Valladolid Debate & Converting the New World
Popular Courses
- Respiratory Pigments: Animals & Explanation
- Scratch Art Lesson Plan
- What Is the International Reading Association?
- Best Way to Learn Spanish On Your Own
- Structure of the CAE Reading Section
- Division Math Games
- Romeo and Juliet Act 5 Lesson Plan
- Texas Educational Aide Certificate
- The Outsiders Lesson Plan
- What Is the Cambridge English: Advanced Test?
- Trail of Tears Lesson Plan
- Contour Drawing Lesson Plan
Popular Lessons
Math
Social Sciences
Science
Business
Humanities
Education
History
Art and Design
Tech and Engineering
- Tech and Engineering - Videos
- Tech and Engineering - Quizzes
- Tech and Engineering - Questions & Answers
Health and Medicine
Explore our library of over 75,000 lessons
Browse by subject
