Abstract:
The vocational interests of 2,709 male and female high school
students in Australia were examined using a Rasch model of item
responding. The present study used a national probability sample
of Australian youth. Participants completed a 24-item questionnaire
that reflected the vocational interest typology of Holland. Item
response analysis was used to determine the location of the four
questions that comprised each of the vocational scales. Scales and
items conformed generally to the measurement model. Infit mean
squares centred on 1.0 and separability was satisfactory for all
scales (0.85 to 0.99) except the Investigative scale. The analysis of
items using a Rasch model provided new information on how
individuals responded to items and the complexity of responses
within interest categories. It is argued that simple raw scores or
summing scores may not offer a valid basis for assessment of
interests.
