THE SELF-DIRECTED SEARCH - A FAMILY OF SELF-GUIDED CAREER INTERVENTIONS

The Self-Directed Search (SDS; Holland, 1994) is a pair of booklets th at simulate career counseling, accompanied by a set of derivative tool s for use with the SDS. It is theoretically based, can be self-adminis tered, 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, re sulting in the latest revision or Form R (1994). Form R (1994) was cre ated in two steps. An experimental version of the Assessment Booklet w as compiled with 70 new items and administered to 701 individuals. The se data were then used to identify good and bad items. In a second ste p, 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 o f 4 to 12 weeks. The Occupations Finder (Holland, 1994) was revised an d two manuals created: one a technical manual and one a professional u ser's guide. As in other revisions of the SDS, the goal was to make th e experience more useful to clients and to counselors.