Stability and change in vocational interest profiles and interest congruence over the course of vocational education and training

Abstract

The current study is concerned with the stability of and changes in vocational interest profiles and interest congruence in vocational education and training (VET). Specifically, we examined (1) the stability of vocational interest profiles, (2) the existence of occupational socialization effects that manifest themselves as increases in person-environment (P-E) congruence, and (3) the question of whether or not changes in P-E congruence are psychologically relevant because they are related to trainees’ attitudes towards their VET course. We used data from a three-wave longitudinal sample comprising N = 2611 trainees from five different VET courses in Germany. Through the use of meta-analytical aggregation techniques, we were able to analyze interindividual differences in intraindividual interest stability and P-E congruence and to relate these differences to trainees’ satisfaction with VET. On average, interest profiles turned out to be highly stable over the entire course of VET. However, we found substantial interindividual and intergroup differences in interest stability. Average P-E congruence increased slightly in two groups, providing only little evidence for the presumed socialization effects. Nevertheless, interindividual differences in P-E congruence and changes in P-E congruence were psychologically relevant because they were linked to trainees’ satisfaction with their VET course and changes therein.

Influence of Person-Vocation Fit on Satisfaction and Persistence in Vocational Training Programs

“…Furthermore, measurement of training satisfaction in NEPS is a wave-specific measurement and particularly frequently affected by missing values. Etzel and Nagy (2021) show for industrial clerks and four occupations of technical trainees that training satisfaction decreased in all occupations during the training process. Only in occupations with stronger increase in interest congruence they find a smaller reduction of training satisfaction.…”

“…Against the background of our results, two related research fields should be analyzed further. Etzel and Nagy (2021) already reveal that vocational interest congruence is relatively stable over the training process and thus socialization effects are low. However, more differentiated effects of work-adjustment processes and educational mediation in the field of VET are of interest.…”

“…In particular, Realistic interests seem to be predictive of persistence in VET for technical trainees and of leaving VET for industrial clerks. Additionally, Etzel and Nagy (2021) show that vocational interest congruence is important for training satisfaction also for industrial clerks and technical trainees. However, these studies cover only a small range of occupations, so no direct conclusions can be drawn about the influence of interest congruence on the training process.…”

Person-situation navigation mechanisms at work

“…In this context, Kandler and Rauthmann (2021) introduced the idea of P-E fitting, which pertains to the process of repeated interactions between personal dispositions and environments over time with the goal to increase the fit between the individual and the environment. This idea is supported by empirical research (e.g., Etzel & Nagy, 2021;Hanna et al, 2021) showing that, as a result of ongoing person-situation interactions (and selection in particular), people gravitate towards a more optimal fit in the long run. 3…”

“…In an effort to maximize fit, people's skills, qualities, and interests lead them to employ situation management strategies. For example, they select and craft jobs so that they fit their interests and skills (e.g., Etzel & Nagy, 2021;Hanna et al, 2021), or they might quit their job when they experience a huge misfit in terms of values (e.g., Kristof-Brown et al, 2005). In that sense, Person-Environment fit can be seen as an important driving mechanism and motivation to engage in person-situation navigation mechanisms (Kandler & Rauthmann, 2021).…”