The Self-Directed Search (SDS; Holland, 1994) is a pair of booklets that simulate career counseling, accompanied by a set of derivative tools for use with the SDS. It is theoretically based, can be selfadministered, self-scored, and self-interpreted and has a substantial base of studies examining its "functional utility" or therapeutic effects. The SDS has been revised three times since its development in 1970, resulting in the latest revision or Form R (1994). Form R (1994) was created in two steps. An experimental version of the Assessment Booklet was compiled with 70 new items and administered to 701 individuals. These data were then used to identify good and bad items. In a second step, 2,600 students and adults from 25 states completed the final Form R. Internal consistencies for the revised summary scales range from .90 to .94.Test-retest reliability range from .76 to .89 over a period of 4 to 12 weeks. The Occupations Finder (Holland, 1994) was revised and two manuals created: one a technical manual and one a professional user's guide. As in other revisions of the SDS, the goal was to make the experience more useful to clients and to counselors.The SDS and its derivative instruments constitute the first viable selfscoring and self-interpreting inventory developed from Holland's theory of persons in vocational environments (Holland, 1992). Since its development in 1970, the SDS has been revised and broadened three times (1977, 1985, 1994) to include a coordinated set of forms and closely related products and tools.The SDS is unique among interest inventories and has established a special niche based upon three essential qualities. First, the SDS can be selfadministered, self-scored, and self-interpreted. Indeed, completion of the inventory in every aspect is an exploratory experience. The SDS scoring system requires no electronics, and the scoring process is open to inspection by the respondent, thus becoming an informational intervention in itself.Portions of this manuscript were excerpted from a paper presented by