Career Assessment(2)

Career Assessment Part I

Assessment • History – 1883 U.S. Civil Service Commission – 1940’s aptitude batteries • Psychometric Properties – Reliability • Types – Test retest reliability – Alternate forms reliability – Split half reliability

Assessment • Peterson, Sampson, and Reardon (1991): Factors that impact stability (reliability) – The stability of the trait being measured – Group differences: race, ethnicity, gender etc. – Individual differences: genetic endowments, age etc. – The nature of performance for the variable being measured – The internal consistence of the test, how psychometrically sound is the test? • What is the problem with using a test that does not have proven reliability?

Assessment • Psychometric Properties – Validity • Types – Content validity – Criterion validity • What is the problem with using a test that does not have proven validity • Assessment with minority groups – APPLICABILITY! – CHECK THE NORM SAMPLE

Types of Assessment • Career Beliefs Inventories – Assess beliefs about careers and other factors • Career Beliefs Inventory • Career Thoughts Inventory • My Vocational Situation • Aptitude Tests – Assess potential and/or current ability • General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB) • The Differential Aptitude Test (GAT) • Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

Types of Assessments • Academic Achievement – Assess present level of academic knowledge and ability • See page 218 • Career Interest Inventories – Measures level of interest in occupations • The Strong Interest Inventory and the Kuder General Interest Survey are the most widely used interest inventories

Interest Inventories • Kuder General Interest Survey – 1. Outdoor – 2. Mechanical – 3. Computational – 4. Scientific – 5. Persuasive – 6. Artistic – 7. Literary – 8. Musical – 9. Social Services – 10. Clerical

Interest Inventories • Strong Interest Inventory – 1. General Occupational themes – 2. Basic Interest Scales – 3. Occupational Scales

Assessment • Personality Variables – Determining fit with personality type and work environment is important – 16PF most widely used personality assessment in career counseling • Developed by Raymond Cattell • Currently in the 5th edition • 185 item test • 5th grade readability level • Can be hand or computer scored

16 Personality Factor Questionnaire • Psychometrics – Test retest reliability .56 to .79 – Internal consistency .64 to. 85 • Interpretive Information – 16 primary factor scales – 5 global factor scales – 3 validity indices

16 Personality Factor Questionnaire • Global Factors – Extraversion – Anxiety – Tough-Mindedness – Independence – Self-Control

16 Personality Factor Questionnaire • Primary Scales – Warmth – Reasoning – Emotional Stability – Dominance – Liveliness – Rule-Consciousness – Social Boldness – Sensitivity

Vigilance Abstractedness Privateness Apprehension Openness to Change Self-Reliance Perfectionism Tension

Assessment • Determining Values – Work values – Lifestyle values • Career Maturity Variables – Measures vocational development • Computer assisted guidance assessment – Pros – Cons