Using Measures of Vocational Maturity in Evaluation

Author(s):

Hilton, Thomas L.

Publication Year:

1974

Report Number:

RM-74-08

Source:

ETS Research Memorandum

Document Type:

Report

Page Count:

28

Subject/Key Words:

Career Education, Evaluation Methods, Guidance Programs, Measurement Techniques, Program Evaluation, Vocational Education

Abstract

Design requirements for a test of vocational maturity; defining goals; selection of appropriate, relevant measures; matrix sampling; data analysis; item-total score correlations; interpretation of results; effects of testing; analysis of gains; and use of the outcome measures, are all discussed. Vocational maturity is defined as "the extent to which an individual has mastered, relative to his peers, the knowledge, attitudes, and skills required for successfully coping with career planning and implementation." The discussion is meant to be relevant to evaluation in three areas--career education, vocational education, and exploratory counseling and guidance programs. Examples, from other studies, of good uses of several methods are cited. Rationale, advantages, and disadvantages of different methods are discussed, always keeping in mind the goals of the study. To maximize the usefulness of the various scales described, it is recommended that they be regarded as a large pool of "mini-measures," some consisting of single items and others of groups of homogeneous items. Different evaluation designs would require use of different subsets of items.

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