Factorial Validity of the Vocational Interest Scales of the Holland Vocational Preference Inventory for Australian High School Students

Abstract

The purpose of the present report was to identify the structure of the six vocational interests measured by the Holland Vocational Preference Inventory. Two independent samples of Australian high school students were used—101 males in the first study and 99 subjects (44 males and 55 females) in the second study. Principal components analysis with rotation to the varimax criterion was carried out on the 6 by 6 interscale correlation matrices. Comparison of the first three factors between the samples yielded coefficients of congruence of 0.987, 0.827 and 0.929. Results of the first and second analyses, respectively, showed that a general factor accounted for 58% and 44% of the total variance. The remaining factors which were bipolar, supported previous classifications of interests. The nature of the first factor and its importance for vocational guidance are discussed.