Ability assessment and vocational outcomes: the impact of utilizing an ability measure in predicting choice, aspirations, and satisfaction

<p>The current study examined the extent to which ability provides incremental validity to the prediction of various vocational outcome variables, such as major and occupational choice, major satisfaction, and career aspiration level. The Ability Profiler (U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration, 2002) was utilized as the ability measure alongside a variety of self-report individual difference variables, such as personality, interest, and self-efficacy, in the prediction of these vocational outcome variables. Discriminant functions analyses were utilized to determine whether ability adds incremental validity to the prediction of major and occupation choice beyond what is predicted by the self-report measures, while hierarchical regression analyses were utilized to assess the incremental validity of ability in the prediction of major satisfaction and career aspiration level. It was determined that ability does not add incremental validity to the prediction of major and occupation choice nor does it add incremental validity to the prediction of major satisfaction and career aspiration level beyond what is predicted by the self-report measures. Implications for career counseling, limitations of the current study, and future directions are discussed.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Philosophy

Level thesis:degree_level

dissertation

Department dc:contributor.department

Department of Psychology

Year dc:date.issued

2013

Author dc:creator

• Ludwikowski, Wyndolyn

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Patrick I. Armstrong

Language dc:language.iso

en

Identifier

archive/lib.dr.iastate.edu/etd/13224/

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dr.lib.iastate.edu:20.500.12876/27413