A study of interest patterns of successful and unsuccessful home economics students entering college with similar achievement and aptitude

Abstract

Two groups of 60 students at New York State College of Home Economics were paired for high school achievement and decile rank on the American Council Examination. They differed in college achievement, participation in activities, and probable employability. The Strong Vocational Interest Blank was administered, and differences in percentages of the two groups marking each symbol were calculated. The following summarizes the findings: (1) Successful students show more positive reactions to activities, amusements, and school subjects which they have had a chance to experience. (2) Successful students show interest in more prosaic occupations, accept conventional standards of judgment, and appear more extraverted, while unsuccessful students prefer occupations associated with childish daydreams and escape literature, and present an interest pattern which suggests daydreaming and fantasy. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)