Empirical Examination of an Online Version of the Self-Directed Search

Abstract

The study examined the quality and utility of online administration of the Self-Directed Search (SDS) to high school students in a career exploration workshop. An Internet-based SDS version was designed; it included automatic scoring and immediate feedback to test takers, providing a three-letter occupational code along with verbal explanation of the results. SDS was taken by participants in their homes or in school ( n = 77), and compared to traditional administration of the SDS ( n = 73), either self-scored or counselor scored. The mean internal consistency coefficient for the SDS was .90, and mean test-retest reliability (over a 6- week period) was .94. Mean correlation between the same SDS scales of participants who took both versions was .77. For this latter group, the Realistic, Social, and Enterprising scales were found to be higher in the online administration than in the paper-and-pencil administration, whereas the three other scales were not statistically different. Similar to the traditional version and consistent with previous research, the online version produced the configuration of a RIASEC-order hexagon. Participants who took the online version were more satisfied with it than those who took the paper-and-pencil version. These results highly support the further use of the online version of the SDS.

Relation of Reinforcement Sensitivity on Vocational Interest and Self-Efficacy

“…At least one study (Barak & Cohen, 2002) has shown some evidence that individuals were more likely to indicate higher interest and confidence in the vocational domains of realistic, social, and enterprising when administered online versus paper and pencil. It was also recognized that a majority of the BIS/BAS Scale items were coded in the same direction, which may have created a responses bias towards the items.…”

A Preliminary Study on the Effectiveness of the Chinese Career Key Online

“…Future studies should also investigate other measurable criteria such as educational and career goals and aspirations. Other examples of career studies on Internet assessment exist (Barak & Cohen, 2002;Harris-Bowlsbey & Sampson, 2005;Oliver & Zack, 1999;Sampson, 2004).…”

Assessing the measurement invariance of latent job satisfaction ratings across survey administration modes for respondent subgroups: A MIMIC modeling approach

“…To date, very few researchers have investigated cross-mode equivalence using a repeated measures framework. Barak and Cohen (2002), investigating measurement equivalence of a popular measure of career interests, found that while testretest correlations were relatively high over a six-week period, three of the six subscale means were elevated for the Internet condition. As this study illustrates, the fundamental advantage of the repeated measures design over a between subjects design is the reduction in error variance associated with individual differences (Robinson, 1981).…”