Stability of vocational interests within nonprofessional occupations

Abstract

Tested the assumption that individuals' scores and criterion group characteristics for nonprofessional vocations remain stable over long periods of time. Navy Vocational Interest Inventory scores received by 208 Navy enlisted men in a variety of occupational specialties were compared with their retest scores obtained 5 yr. later. Results show substantial reliability of individual scores, paralleling reliabilities obtained with the SVIB. Comparisons of interest profiles of criterion groups tested in 1951 with those of men entering the same specialties 13 yr. later also showed considerable stability. Findings should be generalizable to the Minnesota Vocational Interest Inventory, a revision of the original inventory. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)