Use of the semantic differential in a test of Super's vocational adjustment theory

Abstract

3 HYPOTHESES DERIVED FROM THE THEORY THAT VOCATIONAL ADJUSTMENT IS DEPENDENT UPON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE SELF-CONCET WERE TESTED: (1) THE SAME DIMENSIONS OF MEANING ARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE SELF- AND JOB-RELATED CONCEPTS, (2) SS WILL RATE THE CONCEPTS IN THE SAME WAY ACROSS THE DIMENSIONS, AND (3) THE SELF-CONCEPT IS STABLE OVER TIME. 89 JUNE GRADUATING SENIORS FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY, WERE USED AS SS FOR ESTABLISHING THE SEMANTIC STRUCTURE OF THE MYSELF CONCEPT. THIS STRUCTURE WAS THEN COMPARED TO THE CONCEPTS MYSELF, MY JOB, AND EMPLOYER, ADMINISTERED AFTER SS WERE EMPLOYED. 40 JANUARY GRADUATING SENIORS WERE USED FOR CROSS-VALIDATION. HYPOTHESES 1 AND 2 WERE PARTIALLY REJECTED; HYPOTHESIS 3 WAS ACCEPTED AT THE .01 LEVEL. THE THEORY THAT JOB SATISFACTION AND LIFE ADJUSTMENT ARE DUE TO A GENERAL EVALUATIVE PERSONALITY DISPOSITION IS OFFERED AS A SUBSTITUTE FOR THE CONGRUENCY THEORY. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)