Black and White Vocational Interests on Holland's Self-Directed Search (SDS)

Abstract

Self-Directed Search (SDS) is a self-administered, self-scored, and selfinterpreted vocational counseling tool.' The instrument is thought by Holland to have two primary objectives: (1) to allow a counselor to serve many more people with e ducational-vocational problems; and (2) to provide a vocational counseling experience for people who do not have access to professional counselors, or who cannot afford their services.2 The SDS is composed of two booklets, one of which is the self-administering instrument itself and the other is a list of occupations coded with three letters according to Holland's personality theory.3 The examinee fills out the former booklet to the best of his ability and obtains a three-letter code which is then compared to the occupations listed in the Occupational Classification Booklet which are keyed with the same three letters. The validity of the SDS is based on Holland's six personality types:4 Realistic, Investigative, Artistic, Social, Enterprising, and Conventional. Through the use of five test sections (Occupational Day drea ms, Activities, Competencies,