Translating interests into images: a pictorial approach to career interest assessment in middle childhood

This research addresses the absence of empirically validated vocational interest measures for children by developing and evaluating the Pictorial Interest Profiler (PIP), a RIASEC-based assessment for grades 3-5. Study 1 established a four-phase methodology for translating written interest items into developmentally appropriate pictorial representations, involving design guidelines, systematic development, expert validation, and pilot testing. Study 2 examined PIP’s psychometric properties with 199 elementary students (ages 8-11) from the southeastern United States. Content validity reached 86% interpretation accuracy, exceeding the 80% benchmark. For the overall sample, five of six RIASEC scales (Holland, 1973, 1997) demonstrated adequate internal consistency (α = .66-.78), with Enterprising falling below threshold (α = .58). Structural validity analyses using Circular Unidimensional Scaling revealed good fit to Holland's circumplex model (VAF > .60 for quasi-circumplex), with fifth grade showing optimal theoretical structure. Criterion validity yielded 31% correspondence between PIP scores and coded occupational aspirations. Grade-level analyses revealed developmental progression, with interest structure differentiation improving from third to fifth grade. While 20% of items (6 of 30) require revision, findings demonstrate that pictorial adaptation of vocational measures for late middle childhood is feasible. The study contributes a replicable methodology for developing age-appropriate assessments and empirical evidence about early vocational interest emergence, supporting career exploration interventions before middle school transitions.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Educational Psychology

Grantor

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2025

Author dc:creator

• Lesmes Palacios, Diana Esperanza

Contributors dc:contributor

• Rounds, James
• Kern, Justin
• Napolitano, Chris
• Hidalgo, Edward

• vocational interests
• career development
• middle childhood
• pictorial assessment
• RIASEC
• Holland’s theory
• Pictorial Interests Profiler
• PIP

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2025 Diana Lesmes Palacios

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/132464

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/132464