Psychology ETDs

Dean R. Lee

Publication Date

3-14-1968

Abstract

Previous research investigating the relationship between measured interests and expressed interests have reported correlation coefficients ranging from low negative values to +. 99. The present study was an attempt to discover the characteristics that distinguish those people who can accurately estimate their interests from those who cannot. It was hypothesized that the level of awareness index, as shown by differences between expressed and measured interests, would be higher for people with certain personality or intellectual characteristics or both and lower for people characterized by other personality or intellectual characteristics or both. The subjects for the study were 70 male and 70 female undergraduates at the University of New Mexico. Participation was on a volunteer basis and knowledge of the testing results were provided in an attempt to generate more serious test-taking attitudes on the part of the subjects. Subjects were administered the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire, the Otis Quick-Scoring Mental Ability Test, the Kuder Vocational Preference Record and a form on which they could estimate their interests in the ten areas measured by the Kuder. Awareness of interest was defined as the discrepancy score between expressed and measured interests. Males and females were divided into low, medium, and high awareness of interest groups which were compared on personality variables, age and intelligence. Most significant was the finding concerning the relationship between tendermindedness and high awareness of interest for females. This relationship was interpreted as being a reflection of environmental and cultural variables in both traits rather than a cause and effect relationship between the two. A significant order effect was reflected in the responses to the personality test. The interpretation was advanced that fatigue and anxiety were the factors responsibility for this effect. Based on this interpretation the opinion was presented that greater standardization of administrative techniques in the testing area would mitigate the influence of extraneous variables such as fatigue and anxiety and make the interpretation of tests more meaningful.

Degree Name

Psychology

Level of Degree

Masters

Department Name

Psychology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Ralph David Norman

Second Committee Member

Louis Elliot Price

Third Committee Member

James Clark Moore

Fourth Committee Member

Ralph David Norman

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

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