The Influence of Item Response Indecision on the Self-Directed Search.

Students (N = 247) responded to Self-Directed Search (SDS) per the standard response format and were also instructed to record a question mark (?) for items about which they were uncertain (item response indecision [IRI]). The initial responses of the 114 participants with a (?) were then reversed and a second SDS summary code was obtained and compared to the first. SDS codes did not change for 82% of IRI participants, but changes occurred in the first and second letters for 6%, the second and third letters for 4%, and the third letter for 9%. There were significant relationships between the extent of IRI and dysfunctional career thoughts, and IRI was inversely related to interest structure, for example, SDS consistency, congruence, and differentiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]