Interest, ability and personality characteristics of two samples of employed realistic males: Implications for management and assessment.

Abstract

This article identifies interest, ability, and personality characteristics of two geographically distant samples of adult males employed at two separate locations of the same corporation, a paper manufacturer. Each of these participants was assessed in developmental or selection assessment centers. Each sample on average strongly endorsed realistic occupational interests (Holland, 1997) with different secondary and tertiary interests depending on which interest measure was used (Strong Vocational Interest Blank vs. the Vocational Interest Inventory). The results generally confirmed Lowman's (1991, 1993) interdomain model in the samples' ability and personality results. Compared with normative groups, the samples scored, on avarage, high on mechanical abilities, average in verbal and overall general intelligence, but in the high average range on nonverbal intelligence while scoring average in the assessment center exercises. On the personality measures, participants on average presented themselves as being...