Meta-analyses of interest-personality convergence using the Strong Interest Inventory and the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire

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2004-01-01
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Staggs, Gena
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Lisa M. Larson
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Psychology
The Department of Psychology may prepare students with a liberal study, or for work in academia or professional education for law or health-services. Graduates will be able to apply the scientific method to human behavior and mental processes, as well as have ample knowledge of psychological theory and method.
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This investigation used a series of meta-analyses to explore convergence between vocational interests and personality as measured by the Strong Interest Inventory (SII; Hansen & Campbell, 1985; Harmon, Hansen, Borgen, & Hammer, 1994) and the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ: Tellegen, 1982; Tellgen & Waller, in press). Findings of the present meta-analyses are compared with findings of two previous meta-analytic studies (i.e., Barrick, Mount, & Gupta, 2003; Larson, Rottinghaus, & Borgen, 2002) that examined interest-personality (I-P) convergence using measures of Holland's occupational types and the Big Five personality factors. By synthesizing studies that administered the MPQ as an alternative to measures of the Big Five, and by including correlations between specific scales of both the SII (i.e., the 25 Basic Interest Scales) and of the MPQ (i.e., the 11 primary factors), a number of substantial I-P correlations were discovered that had not been previously identified by studies that assessed common variance using RIASEC themes and measures of the Big Five. Results are also discussed in context of relevant heritability studies and debated theories regarding the nature of I-P convergence and the development of personality and interests in individuals. Also noteworthy is the demographic diversity (i.e., gifted adolescents, college students, adult career clients) represented by the individual samples included in this study.;The most substantial I-P correlations ranged from .30 to .49---reflecting between 9% and 24% shared variance. The most meaningful of these correlations for theory and application appear to be those between Enterprising interests and Social Potency (SP), Artistic interests and Absorption (ABS), the Realistic GOT and Harm Avoidance (HA), and the Social GOT and Positive Affectivity (PA). The substantial inverse correlation between the Realistic GOT and HA is particularly noteworthy given that previous Big 6/Big 5 meta-analyses did not find any meaningful correlations between the Realistic GOT and personality factors. Neither sex nor age was found to be a substantial moderator of interest-personality correlations.

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Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 UTC 2004