Development and Validity of a Vocational and Occupational Interest Inventory.

Abstract : Over 3,100 airmen and 300 recruits in basic training returned interest inventories, termed the Vocational and Occupational Interest Choice Examination (VOICE). Items forming the inventory were primarily generated by examining job analyses in relation to the airman classification structure. Both a priori and occupational scales were developed based on responses obtained by mail inventory administration of airmen who indicated satisfaction with their career fields. Scales were developed on half-samples and a cross-validation technique employed. A comparison was made, in order to assess validity, of the number of individuals correctly predicted to be members of a service career field or 'men-in-general' using the scales versus the number of individuals one would expect to correctly predict without use of the scales. Scale weights developed in one half-sample were applied to responses obtained in the other half-sample in the above comparison. (Modified author abstract)