The purpose of this study is to examine the role of personality traits measured by the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ; [Tellegen, 2000] and [Tellegen and Waller, 2008]) in selecting educational majors. Personality traits were examined alone, and with the combination of Holland's hexagonal confidence domains, as measured by the…

The psychometric properties of measures of self-efficacy for the six themes of Holland's theory were examined using item response theory. Item and scale quality were compared across levels of the trait continuum; all the scales were highly reliable but differentiated better at some levels of the continuum than others. Applications for adaptive…

The present study compared the effectiveness of two online career exploration systems in increasing the career decision self-efficacy and decidedness of 960 students enrolled in a program for undecided freshmen students at a large public university. Results indicated that both systems led to significant increases in career decision self-efficacy…

This article extends recent work on the relationship between personality and career self-efficacy by examining relationships across two new inventories with scales for identifying human strengths. The Healthy Personality Inventory (HPI) has 17 content scales tapping an array of positive personality measures. The CAPA Confidence Inventory (CCI) has…

Using data from 365 students, blocks of Big Five personality factors, six self-efficacy measures, and six interests from the Strong Interest Inventory were entered into hierarchical regressions. Personality, self-efficacy, and interests each made independent contributions explaining the level of educational aspiration. (Contains 58 references.)…

Interests and self-efficacy are related constructs that contribute to a better understanding of career goals. The correlation between interests and self-efficacy as measured by the Skills Confidence Inventory and Strong Interest Inventory are very stable; concurrent administration yields a comparison of levels of interest and confidence from…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the Big Five personality factors, measured by the NEO Personality Inventory Five-Factor Inventory (Costa & McCrae, 1992), and vocational confidence across Holland's hexagon, measured by the Skills Confidence Inventory (SCI; Betz, Borgen, & Harmon, 2005), were useful in discriminating among…

A meta-analysis was conducted of 60 empirical samples (n=39.154), 53 of which used parallel measures of self-efficacy and interests. Results demonstrated that self-efficacy and interests are independent and correlate moderately. Overlap varies considerably for Social, Enterprising, and Conventional interest domains depending on the measure used.…

The basic confidence scales of the Expanded Skills Confidence Inventory for 715 college students were correlated with confidence for Holland's six themes and basic interest scales of the Strong Interest Inventory. Discriminant analysis indicated that using both interest and confidence measures led to additional predictive power. (Contains 37…

A series of studies refined 17 scales of the Expanded Skills Confidence Inventory (n=934) and validated it with an adult sample (n=972). Scales were internally consistent, showed predictable patterns of gender differences, and were highly related to predicted Holland confidence themes. Discriminant analyses across 8 largest occupational groups…

Examines the incremental validity of the General Confidence Themes of the Skills Confidence Inventory as measures of vocational self-efficacy in identifying tenured and satisfied membership in 21 occupational groups. Results replicate earlier findings that self-efficacy and interest form similar structures. Results also demonstrate the explanatory…

Although personality is viewed as a precursor to self-efficacy and interest development (e.g., Lent, Brown, & Hackett, 1994), little research concerns linkages between personality and self-efficacy. This article bridges the relation by presenting the pattern of findings across four university samples. Three general and 11 specific personality…

Analysis of results of the Skills Confidence Inventory completed by 1147 employed adults and 706 college students revealed minimal gender differences in self-efficacy within 21 occupations and 6 Holland job families. (SK)

Reviews the trend toward integrating vocational interest measurement with self-efficacy and personal styles measures. States that parallel measures of interests and self-efficacy can improve prediction of vocational choice behavior; personal styles and interests can be useful in choosing occupational settings and building career paths. Contains 53…

This study examined the relationships of vocational interests and self-efficacy expectations, or confidence, to personality, as measured by the Personal Styles scales of the Strong Interest Inventory. The study also examined the extent to which confidence and personality measures contributed incrementally to the prediction of occupational group…