General Versus Specific Predictors of Specialty Choice in Psychology: Holland Codes and Theoretical Orientations

Abstract

A general measure of vocational personality (Holland codes) as presented in the Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI; Holland, 1985) is compared to a more specific measure of preferences (theoretical orientations) with respect to differentiating among specialty areas in psychology—specifically, clinical, counseling, and experimental psychology (Coan, 1979). Counseling and clinical doctoral students differ from experimental doctoral students on both theoretical orientations and vocational personality. The counseling and clinical students do not differ on theoretical orientations, but do differ on vocational personality, with counseling students being more socially oriented than clinical students. These findings are surprising in light of literature that suggests specific preferences should be more predictive of specialty interests. Implications for counseling are suggested, including some cautions about using rational, rather than empirical, measures of Holland three-point codes for psychologists.