Interest patterns of a group of high-ability, high-achieving students.

Abstract

This study investigates three problems which are significant in understanding the nature of vocational interests and in using the Strong Vocational Interest Blank in educational settings. The first concern is with the nature of interest patterns of high-ability students. How many types of patterns occur and in what areas are they found? Are interest patterns of such students different from those of a more heterogeneous group of college students?Reviews (Darley & Hagenah, 1955;Strong, 1943;Strong, 1955, Super, 1949 of studies of relationships betwen intelligence and vocational interests have indicated that the correlations are seldom high enough to be of practical significance for predictive purposes. Strong (1943) reported that 80 per cent of the correlations found ranged between .30 and -.30, with .45 being the highest. He indicated, however, that persons with high ability are likely to have interests similar to those of scientists, public accountants, and writers. They are less likely to have interests similar to those of men dealing with people and with office procedures. Strong (1955) has also questioned the appropriateness of correlational techniques for showing true relationships between interests and abilities. Despite the low correlations, he felt that ability must be important in the development of vocational interests. Perhaps analyses of types and frequencies of interest patterns on the Strong Blank will provide additional insight into this relationship.

The Effect of Aptitude and Achievement Status on the Self-System

“…Gifted students also tend to have a more intrinsic motivational orientation than average intelligence students. For example, several authors report that gifted students have a wider range of interests that they pursue more actively than average intelligence students (Cox, 1926;Hildreth, 1966;Lehman, 1953;Martinson, 1973;Newland, 1976;Stewart, 1959). Others report that gifted students tend to prefer making their own decisions about what to study (Bachtold,1969;Lucito, 1964;Smith, 1962;Warren & Heist, 1960).…”

Interest Patterns of Male Trade and Industrial and Collegiate Technical Graduates

“…Numerous studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of the Strong Vo-RONALD G. TAYLOR [2] found that students of equivalent ability enrolled in the college of liberal arts and engineering had widely different interest patterns. Stewart [3] concluded that high ability students had highly similar interest patterns. Berdie [1] examined the scores on specific SVIB scales of graduate school physicians, lawyers, and business administration students and found that several scales did differentiate even though the test was administered in the senior year of high school.…”