The Structure of Basic Interests

Basic interests are useful but under-utilized constructs for measuring interests in career counseling and other applied settings (Day & Rounds, 1997). In the present study basic interest measures are used evaluate the structure of Holland's (1959, 1997) theory and four alternative models: Hierarchical (Gati, 1979, 1991), circumplex (Tracey & Rounds, 1995), three-dimensional (Tracey & Rounds, 1996), and alternative interest categories (Rounds, 1995). Data from published sources representing both historically significant interest measures and contemporary basic interest measures were analyzed. The fit of the hierarchical and circumplex models to the data were equivalent. The ordering of scales in a circumplex was not consistent with Holland's theory, with an average increase of nine percent variance accounted for (VAF) over the Holland-based ordering. Adding a third dimension produced an average increase of eight percent VAF over the two-dimensional results. Similarly, improvements in fit can be made over Holland's theory with alternative interest categories, although methodological difficulties in the analyses limits confidence in this finding. Overall, support was obtained for developing alternative structural models of interests using basic interest measures.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Education

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2015

Author dc:creator

• Armstrong, Patrick Ian

Contributors dc:contributor

• Rounds, James

• Education, Tests and Measurements

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

(MiAaPQ)AAI3202060

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/79883