Use of Holland's vocational theory with potential high school dropouts

Abstract

The construct validity for potential high school dropouts of Holland's theory of vocational choice as measured by the Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI) was studied. The hexagonal arrangement proposed by Holland of the constructs in factor space for potential high school dropouts was supported using the model-testing procedure of Wakefield and Doughtie ( Journal of Counseling Psychology, 1973 , 20, 513–518). The correspondence of the constructs measured by the VPI for potential high school dropouts and college students was found to be substantially the same using the factor-relating procedure of Kaiser, Hunka, and Bianchini (In H. J. Eysenck & S. B. G. Eysenck (Eds.), Personality structure and measurement. San Diego, Calif.: Knapp, 1969 , pp. 333–343). These results indicate that Holland's theory is appropriate for potential high school dropouts and, by implication, for other high school students.