CAREER AND VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENT 1993-1994 - A BIENNIAL REVIEW

Seven inclusion criteria were employed in an effort to reduce the exte nsive literature by up to 50%. Principal topics were: The origin, stru cture, and nature of vocational interests; Career indecision; Culture and career assessment; Gender and career assessment; and Tests as tool s: What should we teach graduate students? Several conclusions were dr awn from this review. The proportion of vocational interests that can be attributed to genetic sources is apparently greater than was previo usly believed. Further, interests may be broad constructs if strong co rrelations between interests and personality continue to be found. Rep eated confirmation of the circular arrangement of interests is leading to three-dimensional (spherical) models of interests. The introductio n of one new, and three revised, interest inventories is testimony to the future viability of vocational interests as diagnostic and treatme nt devices. Career decision appears to have a strong neurotic componen t, but our understanding of the nature of indecision is limited by a f ailure to relate this area to basic decision science. Research on cult ure and gender in career development continues at a high rate. Finally , questions are raised about the adequacy of vocational assessment tra ining in graduate programs. A call is made for more systematic theoret ical work in vocational assessment and for a closer link to interventi ons.