Examining Holland’s model for Ecuadorian youth. Tool development and psychometric implications for vocational counseling

Holland’s (1997) scale is one of the most frequently used measures of vocational personality. The study describes the multiphase development and cultural validation of a short version of the sixfactor scale on a representative sample of 1735 Ecuadorian undergraduates. The Questionnaire of Vocational Preferences of Youth (Inventario de las Preferencias Profesionales de Jovenes: IPPJ) as the first culturally-rooted tool for Ecuadorian youth corresponds with the circular model by Holland (1997). Factorial analysis (EFA and CFA), validity, follow-up study, and reliability indicators support the factorial equivalence of the new, short version of the IPPJ. Some practical implications are outlined for vocational guidance in Ecuador.

Imitating Human Emotions with a NAO Robot as Interviewer Playing the Role of Vocational Tutor

This paper proposes an intelligent system that can hold an interview, using a NAO robot as interviewer playing the role of vocational tutor. For that, twenty behaviors within five personality profiles are classified and categorized into NAO. Five basic emotions are considered: anger, boredom, interest, surprise, and joy. Selected behaviors are grouped according to these five different emotions. Common behaviors (e.g., movements or body postures) used by the robot during vocational guidance sessions are based on a theory of personality traits called the “Five-Factor Model”. In this context, a predefined set of questions is asked by the robot—according to a theoretical model called the “Orientation Model”—about the person’s vocational preferences. Therefore, NAO could react as conveniently as possible during the interview, according to the score of the answer given by the person to the question posed and its personality type. Additionally, based on the answers to these questions, a vocational profile is established, and the robot could provide a recommendation about the person’s vocation. The results show how the intelligent selection of behaviors can be successfully achieved through the proposed approach, making the Human–Robot Interaction friendlier.

Preferencias y habilidades vocacionales de las Ingenierías Ambiental, Forestal y Seguridad Laboral e Higiene Ambientals

Este estudio buscó definir el perfil vocacional de las Ingenierías en Seguridad Laboral e Higiene Ambiental, Forestal y Ambiental, para construir y aplicar un instrumento de preferencias vocacionales e identificardiferencias según carrera, sexo, rendimiento académico y satisfacción vocacional. Participaron 10 docentes y 373 estudiantes (media de edad 21.27 años, 67.51%mujeres). Se implementó una metodología mixta. En la fase cualitativa se elaboró el perfil vocacional. Para ello se aplicó el Instrumento de recolección de información sobre tareas, intereses y habilidades según carrera (Alfaro-Barquero y Chinchilla-Brenes, 2017) y se validó la información con grupos focales. En la fase cuantitativa, se aplicaron la escala de Evaluación de la Satisfacción Vocacionaly la escala de habilidades del Instrumento de Tareas, intereses y habilidades (Alfaro-Barquero y Chinchilla-Brenes, 2016, 2017), dos escalas del SDS de Holland (1994) y se construyeron y aplicaron las escalas de tareas e intereses para Seguridad Laboral, Forestal y Ambiental. Se evaluaron las cualidades psicométricas de los instrumentos con estadísticas descriptivas y análisis factoriales, obteniéndose adecuados indicadores psicométricos en la mayoría de los casos. El análisis de varianza evidenció que los estudiantes con mayor satisfacción vocacional obtienen mejores puntuaciones en intereses, tareas y habilidades. Asimismo, se hallaron diferencias significativas según sexo, carrera y promedio ponderado. Abstract This study was developed with the aim to define the vocational profile of Occupational Safety and Environmental Hygiene Engineering, Forestry Engineering and Environmental Engineering, to build and apply a vocational preferences test, and also, identify differences according to career, sex and vocational satisfaction. In the sample participated 10 teachers and 373 students (average age 21.27 years, 67.51{\%} women). A mixed methodology was implemented. In the qualitative phase, the vocational profile was elaborated. For this purposethe "Instrumento de recolección de información sobre tareas, intereses y habilidades según carrera" (Alfaro-Barquero and Chinchilla-Brenes, 2017) was appilied. Then the information about vocational profile was validated with focus groups. In the quantitative phase, the "Evaluación de la SatisfacciónVocacional" scale and the skills scale taken of the "Instrumento de Tareas, intereses y habilidades" (Alfaro-Barquero and Chinchilla-Brenes, 2016, 2017), two scales of SDS (Holland, 1994) were applied, and also new scales for these professions were built and applied. The psychometric qualities of all instruments were evaluated with descriptive statistics and factor analysis, obtaining adequate psychometric indicators in the majority of cases The analysis of variance showed that students with higher vocational satisfaction obtain better scores in interests, tasks and abilities. Likewise, significant differences were found according to sex, career and weighted average.

Diseño de un instrumento de preferencias vocacionales en Administración, Materiales y Biotecnología/Design of an Instrument for Vocational Preferences in Administration, Materials and Biotechnology

<p><strong>Español</strong></p><p>Este estudio buscó diseñar y evaluar una prueba de preferencias vocacionales para las carreras de Administración de Empresas, Ingeniería en Materiales e Ingeniería en Biotecnología en el Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (ITCR). Para ello, se construyó previamente el perfil vocacional de cada carrera a partir del cual se redactaron los ítems de la prueba. Participaron 480 estudiantes con una media de edad de 22.07 años, 53.19% mujeres y 46.81% hombres. Se obtuvo información del perfil de cada carrera por parte de estudiantes y docentes. Posteriormente, la revisaron grupos de expertos. A partir del perfil definido, se redactaron los ítems de la prueba. Luego, se evaluaron sus características psicométricas con análisis factoriales. Se obtuvieron adecuados indicadores de bondad de ajuste. La prueba vocacional incluyó tres escalas: habilidades, intereses y tareas vocacionales. La escala de habilidades evaluó seis factores: lógico-matemática, física, química, biológica, liderazgo y autorregulación-disciplina. Por su parte, las escalas de tareas e interés se utilizaron para definir las preferencias por los tres factores evaluados: Administración, Materiales y Biotecnología. Finalmente, se evidenciaron diferencias según sexo, carrera y nivel de satisfacción vocacional.</p><p><strong>English</strong></p><p>This study sought to design and evaluate a vocational preference test for Business Administration, Materials Engineering and Biotechnology Engineering majors at the Instituto Tecnológico de Costa Rica (ITCR). For this goal, first of all a vocational profile of each career was constructed, from which the test items were written. 480 students took part, with an average age of 22.07 years, 53.19% of them women and 46.81% men. Descriptions of the profile of each career were collected by students and teachers, and later analyzed by expert groups. From the defined profile, items were drawn up and later evaluated with factor analysis, for the selection of the items, obtaining adequate indicators of goodness of fit. The vocational test includes three factors: Skills, Interests and Vocational Tasks. In turn, the Skills scale evaluated six areas: Mathematics, Chemistry, Physics, Biology, Leadership and Self-regulationdiscipline. For its part, the scale of preferences contemplated the three areas evaluated: Administration, Materials and Biotechnology. On the other hand, there were differences according to sex, major and level of vocational satisfaction.</p>

Nursing Students’ Future Employment Preferences and the Real Demands of Patients using the Health Services. A Qualitative Study on a Group of Final-Year Students at the University of Padua

Increasing life expectancy and the growing number of chronic diseases have changed the kind of patients who need to be assisted. This paper presents a qualitative study conducted with a group of nursing students near graduation, aimed at describing and discussing vocational preferences and desirable healthcare settings for future employment

Career Onion: Peeling off the layers for Occupational Preferences and Career Aspirations

Vocational psychology carts away the vocational behavior regarding the occupational preferences of every individual, which commences at the period of adolescence. These occupational or vocational preferences are shaped or crystallized through career guidance and theories, which further help an adolescent to climb the career ladder towards achieving career aspirations and success. This research article, focuses mainly on five theories, self-concept development theory, valence-instrumentality-expectancy theory, theory of work adjustment , tournament theory and Maslow hierarchy of needs theory, which help the adolescents with the occupational preferences, assist in climbing the career ladder from growth stage to retirement stage, ultimately resulting in achieving career aspirations. Furthermore, researchers reveal the differences among these theories highlighting unique features of every theory in predicting occupational or career preferences. Researchers also draw the career onion, where every layer of the career onion depicts that every adolescent peels off each career layer (starting from the growth stage until he eventually peels off the last layer of the retirement age) to achieve career self-actualization.