Unemployment continues to be a growing concern among both civilian and veteran populations. As 14% of the veteran population currently identify as disabled because of service, this population's need for specialized vocational rehabilitation is increasing. Specifically in Veterans Affairs (VA) Blind Rehabilitation Centers (BRC) where holistic…

We present the PreferenSort, a career counseling instrument that derives counselees' vocational interests from their preferences among occupational titles. The PreferenSort allows for a holistic decision process, while taking into account the full complexity of occupations and encouraging deliberation about one's preferences and acceptable…

In the field of career development, there is an acknowledged relationship between career assessment and career counseling. Traditional career assessment and more recent narrative approaches to career counseling are perceived as having an uneasy relationship because of their different philosophical bases. A sustainable future story for the field…

We examined a longstanding assumption in vocational psychology that people-things and data-ideas are bipolar dimensions. Two minimal criteria for bipolarity were proposed and examined across 3 studies: (a) The correlation between opposite interest types should be negative; (b) after correcting for systematic responding, the correlation should be…

This article celebrates the 50th anniversary of the introduction of John L. Holland's (1959) theory of vocational personalities and work environments by describing the theory's development and evolution, its instrumentation, and its current status. Hallmarks of Holland's theory are its empirical testability and its user-friendliness. By…

Students (N = 247) responded to Self-Directed Search (SDS) per the standard response format and were also instructed to record a question mark (?) for items about which they were uncertain (item response indecision [IRI]). The initial responses of the 114 participants with a (?) were then reversed and a second SDS summary code was obtained and…

The authors examined U.S. war veterans' career concerns (e.g., interests, personality, barriers, career thoughts) to provide possible avenues for research-based and theory-driven intervention. The veterans who participated in the study were receiving mental health, substance abuse, and vocational services at a residential facility. Participants…

Holland influenced practice and research in career development by contributing a clear theory useful in organizing information about individuals and career alternatives and for understanding individuals' entry and persistence in occupational and other environments. His theory was repeatedly revised in response to evidence. As Holland's own career…

The study used the Self-Directed Search (SDS) and the NEO-FFI to explore profile elevation, four secondary constructs, and the Big Five personality factors in a sample of college students in a career course. Regression model results showed that openness, conscientiousness, differentiation high-low, differentiation Iachan, and consistency accounted…

Replicated findings of Wiggins and Moody (1981). Evaluated four types of high school career exploration programs: cluster (N=53), Career Maturity Inventory (N=52), Career Survey (N=57), and Self-Directed Search/Vocational Preference Inventory (N=55). Results favored latter three programs which allowed students to pursue their own interests instead…

Examined learning outcomes associated with J.L. Holland's Self-Directed Search (SDS). Participants (N=146) were randomly assigned to three conditions: the SDS, an attentional control, and no control. Hypothesized participants who completed the SDS would acquire Holland's complete RIASEC (Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, or…

Use of the Self-Directed Search: Computer Version Form R (SDS) with 180 clients (62% women and 38% men, between the ages of 18 and 23) in a college career center is described, with implications for counseling services and research. (Author/KW)

Vocational assessment instruments currently in use are often threatening or frustrating to older adults. Instruments that account for the physical, emotional, and occupational needs of this population are necessary. (CH)

Explains the conceptual background and potential use of the Self-Directed Search (SDS): Computer Version (CV), and discusses its relationship with the paper version. Operations, reports, technical aspects, and distinguishing characteristics of the SDS:CV are described. The SDS Main Menu is appended. (Author/NB)

Computed four derivatives of the Self-Directed Search (SDS) and correlated them with other indices of career maturity for 138 community college students. Accuracy in estimating one's SDS profile correlated significantly with five other maturity indices, but the other derivatives tended not to relate to other career maturity criteria. (JAC)