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…

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…

Presents and responds to questions the author would ask himself before meeting with a client whose Self-Directed Search he has reviewed. The client in the case is a 29-year-old female high school teacher faced with four occupational opportunities from which she is trying to make a choice. (MKA)

Suggests counselors measure vocational interests with three inventories: Ramak Interest Inventory, Courses Interest Inventory, and Self-Directed Search. Discusses implications from studies on vocational congruence, environmental congruence, structure of occupational fields, and within-occupation congruence. Presents five defense mechanisms for…

Discusses general issues and concerns relative to the adaptation of paper-pencil assessment instruments to computerized formats. Describes and evaluates Self-Directed Search computerized version (SDS-CV). Presents strengths and weaknesses of the SDS-CV and makes recommendations for its use. (Author/ABL)

Compared effectiveness of two career self-assessments: the Vocational Interest, Experience, and Skills Assessment (VIESA) and the Self-Directed Search (SDS). Fifty-one college student volunteers from career-planning seminars participated. Results indicated both instruments were found useful. No statistically significant preference for either SDS…

Describes investigation examining Bandura's concept of threshold. Results suggest general support for linear relationship between interest and self-efficacy. Contrary to prediction, plots suggest interest may be stable at lower levels of self-efficacy and may increase linearly at higher levels. Includes 18 citations. Discusses relationship to…