College Students' Holland Types and Their Occupational Preferences in a Forced-Choice Situation.

The main purpose of the present study was to investigate whether persons' Holland personality types would affect preferences in the two occupational preference dimensions of interest and prestige. This study was based on the theoretical premises that persons: (1) tend to seek occupations that fit their interest type; and (2) consider prestige to be more important than interest in career compromising situations. An Occupational Preference Survey was constructed to investigate whether individuals would be more likely to consider prestige over interest-congruence when choosing occupations. Findings from 294 college students indicated significant Holland type differences among subjects' occupational preferences. Students generally preferred interest-congruent occupations. More specific findings revealed that among Anglo-American students, high-prestige/low-interest occupations were most preferred by Investigative type students and least preferred by Artistic and Social type students. (Contains 29 references; five tables present statistical analysis.) (Authors/TS)