Personality patterns and vocational interests of learning disabled and nonlearning disabled high school students

There is a lack of research based data in the field of learning disabilities, especially at the secondary level. The purpose of this study was to evaluate personality configuration patterns and vocational interests through the administration of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Abbreviated Version (AV) and the Self-Directed Search, Form E (EASY) for learning disabled (LD) and non-learning disabled (NLD) students. The sample included 90 LD students and 100 Non-LD students grades 9 through 12 in a large suburban school system. Research questions considered: (1) differences in personality and vocational interest between LD and NLD students; (2) age and gender of LD and NLD students in relationship to vocational interests; (3) relationship between personality patterns and vocational interests between LD and NLD students. Treatment of the data used both descriptive and inferential statistical analyses. Analyses relied on categorical data, and the chi-square test was the statistical test used. Demographics provided data on groups regarding ability level and reading achievement scores related to occupational preferences and gender characteristics. Results indicated that no significant personality differences existed between LD and NLD adolescents. It was found, after looking at all possible interactions between vocational preferences and personality, age, grade, and gender, that significant differences occurred with gender and vocational preferences for both LD/NLD groups. Additionally, EI and TF differences in vocational preferences existed for LD and NLD students. EI and TF differences between LD and NLD career preference showed LD I's and T's prefer mechanical careers, whereas NLD I's and T's prefer teaching and sales. This is correlated with gender preference of LD males for mechanical (non interactive careers), whereas NLD prefer interactive careers

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Education

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Student Personnel Services

Department dc:contributor.department

Student Personnel Services

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1991

Author dc:creator

• Ivy, Robert J.

Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair

• Humes, Charles W. II
• Hohenshil, Thomas H.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Brown, Douglas T.
• Malpass, Peter G.
• McKeen, Ronald L.
• Miles, Johnnie H.

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-10142005-135813

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/39929