ERIC Number: EJ876613
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Apr
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0001-8791
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Available Date: N/A
The Structure of Vocational Interests in Germany: Different Methodologies, Different Conclusions
Nagy, Gabriel; Trautwein, Ulrich; Ludtke, Oliver
Journal of Vocational Behavior, v76 n2 p153-169 Apr 2010
The cross-cultural generalizability of vocational interest structures has received significant attention in recent years. This article adds to this research in four respects. First, data from a context that has not previously been investigated (Germany) was analyzed. Second, students at different stages of their educational career were examined. Third, the interest structure in male and females was compared. Fourth, two methods--the randomization test of hypothesized order relations (RTOR) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA)--were applied to three competing structural conceptions: Holland's circular representation, Gati's hierarchical model, and Rounds and Tracey's alternative hierarchical model. RTOR supported all three representations, whereas CFA supported only Holland's model. CFAs indicated that the interest structure is reasonably invariant between high school and university students, but that the configurations for high school females and males differ. Substantive and methodological implications are discussed. (Contains 9 tables and 5 figures.)
Descriptors: Vocational Interests, Factor Analysis, Foreign Countries, Hypothesis Testing, Gender Differences, Cultural Context, Data Analysis, Factor Structure, Research Methodology, Item Analysis, Generalizability Theory, Cross Cultural Studies
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
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Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Germany
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