PERSONALITY AND VOCATIONAL INTERESTS IN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Abstract

The present study deals with the personality and vocational interests of the high school students. Relationship between personality and vocational interests and the degree of agreement between vocational aspirations and vocational interests of the students were carried out in the current study. The differences with respect to demographical variables on personality and vocational interests were also explored. The main study was conducted on the sample of 596 students (319 male and 277 female students with a mean age of 15.73 years) belonging to 7 government schools. There were 303 students belonging to science group and 292 students belonging to Arts group. The different relationships between the personality and vocational interests were assessed through a series of statistical analysis of Correlation, Multiple regression analysis, t test and One Way Analysis of Variance. The Alpha reliabilities of main domains of NEO PI-R range from .36 (Openness) to .84 (Conscientiousness). The Alpha reliabilities for scales of Self Directed Search (SDS) range from .53 to .68 for Activities, .55 to .66 for Competencies, .76 to .81 for Occupations, and .71 to .80 for summary scales. The results established the psychometric properties of the instruments. A moderate relationship was found between FFM and Holland model. The study identified the vocational preferences of students with respect to demographical variables. The results revealed significant gender differences on personality and vocational interests. The study also determined the vocational aspirations of the students and found the degree of agreement between vocational aspirations and vocational interests for most preferred careers. The results revealed a moderate state of congruence for careers (doctor and teacher) and a state of incongruence for some careers (army, lawyer, and engineer). The findings of the study are also reinforced from the opinion of experts. Some pertinent areas were identified for future research. The present research contributed both for theory and practice. The findings may be valuable in the field of career counseling as well as for policy makers in the field of education.