Instrumental Behaviors Following Test Administration and Interpretation: Exploration Validity of the Strong Interest Inventory Presented by: Ana AriasAlheli Miranda Julia Baird Lily Soltero

Previous research

Purpose

Participants n Introductory Psychology students which were awarded extra credit points n Initially, there were 157 students (women= 94, men= 63) n One year later when the participants were contacted to follow-up there were 94 students (women= 53, men= 41)

Participants cont’d n To determine if the students who were contacted were similar to those who could not be contacted, the demographic characteristics were compared. n Findings: class distribution and GPA very similar n In response to “the importance of having a definite career plan at this time”- both groups responded that it was somewhat or very important ( 68.5% follow-up participants and 64.1% for non-participants )

Final Experimental and Contrast Samples n SII Experimental Group n 45.7% finding interesting careers n 26.2% financial considerations n 18.2% self discovery n Contrast Group n 42.2% finding interesting careers n 19.7% financial considerations n 25.2% self discovery n *no statistical differences

Data Collection n Phase 1, SII was administered and 2 weeks later interpreted n Phase 2, one year later participants were surveyed by telephone to collect criterion data

Self-Reported Career Exploration Behaviors n 14 yes-no items were constructed concerning academic and non-academic career exploration behaviors n 7 items concerning campus career exploration services (use of the Career Development Center) n 7 items concerning career exploration that may occur on or of campus (informal conversation with friends about careers)

Five Factors Measured n Discussion/ Reading n Experiential Information Seeking n Career Counselling n Vocational Testing n Individual Information Seeking

Results n Experimental group engaged in more instrumental information seeking behaviors n Students pattern of activities suggest that the Strong Interest Inventory had an impact on career exploration behaviors

Critical Review Points of Interest  SII group followed up after one year  No gender differences in exploratory validity  Differences between SII experimental group and control group in career exploration preferences  A yes/no response technique was used in participating in instrumental behaviors

Critical Review cont’d Areas of Disagreement  Oliver and Spokane (1983) argue that classroom group intervention seem to be more beneficial than individual strategies  Author focuses on SII and tests leading students to seek further career exploration/ should focus more on results of tests