Aptitude Tests

What is the Strong Interest Inventory?

It has 291 Likert scale items covering five broad areas: 1. General Occupational Themes: offers a three-letter code based on Holland's hexagon model; most commonly used score 2. Basic Interest Scales: identifies interests in 30 broad areas; presented with corresponding Holland codes 3. Occupational Scales: compares one's interests to others who are satisfied with their jobs 4. Personal Style Scales: estimates how comfortable one is in certain activities (work, leadership, academic environment, risk taking, and learning orientation) 5. Response Summary

What are aptitude tests used for?

They measure potential or likely future performance; they can help people choose career paths and determine what they're good at; useful aptitude tests have good predictive validity; they are most critical at transition points

What are multiple aptitude tests?

They measure several abilities at one time to predict how someone might perform in many types of jobs; they use factor analysis to to determine differences and similarities between subtests to measure construct validity, but too much similarity may mean the test needs to be refined

What are differential aptitude tests?

they measure vocational skill ability in grades 7-12; there are 8 tests of ability and includes a career interest inventory

What is the ASVAB?

the most widely used multiple aptitude test in the world; includes aptitude, interest, and career exploration tests; measures needed knowledge, not entire domains; useful for both military and civilian jobs; the computerized version changes difficulty of questions based on previous answers

What are some examples of special aptitude tests?

Clerical aptitude tests; mechanical aptitude tests; artistic aptitude tests; musical aptitude tests

What is the O*NET?

The occupational information network; a free online database produced and maintained by the department of labor; based on six major domains (three about worker, 3 about job); not a resource for finding job openings

What is the COP System?

Three instruments that measure interests, abilities, and values 1. Occupational: scores are related to a unique career cluster model that is used to guide a person to several career areas 2. Ability: measures ability across eight dimensions that relate to carer clusters; identifies which career fields are best suited to their abilities 3. Values: assesses values important in occupational selection

What is the Self-Directed Search?

Uses Holland's hexagon to give examinee a three-character code that correlates with jobs and leisure activities; can be self administered, scored, and interpreted; there are four forms for different ages and life stages

What is Holland's Interest theory?

He believed there are six personality types and six work environments. He also believed that people of the same personality type stick together and people of the same personality type working together create a work environment that fits their type. Thus, people who choose a work environment similar to their personality type will be more successful and satisfied. His scale is hexagonal and more similar types are closer together; the types are realistic, investigative, artisitc, social, enterprising, and conventional.

What are Interest Inventories?

They determine one's likes and dislikes; they are kind of like personality tests and are good at predicting job satisfaction; however, interest does not always correlate with ability.

What are special aptitude tests?

They measure a homogenous areas of ability used to predict success in a specific vocational areas