The Vocational Development of Asian-American youth were examined in terms of Holland's theory. Specifically, the personality types, the level of consistency of interest patterns and the level of congruency of person-environment interaction were examin...
The Vocational Development of Asian-American youth were examined in terms of Holland's theory. Specifically, the personality types, the level of consistency of interest patterns and the level of congruency of person-environment interaction were examined. In order to obtain a more precise description of vocational development of Asian-American youth, the above mentioned aspects were analyzed in relation to parents' education and subjects' linguistic status.
Parents' education was defined in two ways. First, the level of education was defined according to the years of education the parents of this group received, and then, the educational background was defined in terms of whether the parents of this group received at least a year of formal schooling in the U.S. or not.
One hundred and twenty Asian-American subjects ranging in age from sixteen to eighteen years were selected from Asian-American community. These subjects were represented by seventy eight males and forty two females.
Two standardized tests and a questionaire were administered to subjects. The Self Directed Search was used to ascertain subjects' personality types and interest patterns. The Internal-External Locus of Control Scale was used to obtain subjects' locus of control. Through questionnaire, such informations as subjects' linguistic status, vocational preferences, ethnic backgrounds and parents' education, etc, were ascertained.
The following results were found: 1) Asian-American youth revealed personality types predominantly in two types, one the Investigative(25.8) and the other the Social(25.9%), 2) they generally showed a high level of consistency in interest patterns(53.3% showed high level consistency), 3) a large proportion(40.8%) preferred Investigative occupational environments, 4) they showed a high level of congruency in choosing occupational environments, 61.0% expressed occupational preference congruent with their personality types.
Statistical analyses using a Chi Square revealed that relationships existed between:
(1) Fathers' educational bgackgrounds and subjects' level of consistency of interest patterns
(2) Fathers' educational backgrounds and subjects' level of congruency of the person-environment intereaction measure.
(3) Mothers' educational backgrounds and subjects' level of congruency on the person-environment interaction measure. Based on the results of the study, implications for counseling and research were provided.