Psychological Meaning of Profile Elevation in the Vocational Preference Inventory

Abstract

Correlates of profile elevation and two differentiation indices in the Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI), Self-Directed Search, and related inventories are examined to clarify the meaning of elevated and low profiles. The traditional differentiation index is not independent of profile elevation. Other results imply that profile elevation is also related to indicators of a tendency to endorse items in the positive direction and to independent measures of positive, energetic, or impulsive response style. The correlations with independent criteria are usually weak. The possibility that counselors may over-interpret profile elevation in the VPI and related inventories is discussed.

Development and Criterion Validity of Differentiated and Elevated Vocational Interests in Adolescence

“…Gottfredson and Jones (1993) also concluded that profile elevation is only modestly related to external criteria such as involvement, interpersonal competency, identity, or positivity and would therefore be of only marginal practical relevance.…”

The effect of profile elevation on the relationship between interest differentiation and vocational identity

“…A low profile elevation is found to be moderately correlated with depressive traits, unsociability, and a lack of willingness to explore occupations not previously considered (Bullock & Reardon, 2005Fuller et al, 1999). The researchers emphasised that the interpretation of students' vocational interests can be facilitated by using differentiation and profile elevation scores together (Bullock & Reardon, 2005;Gottfredson & Jones, 1993).…”

“…Leung, Conoley, Scheel, and Sonnenberg (1992) examined the theorised relationship between vocational identity and differentiation with a sample of 464 academically superior high school students, and found no association between the two constructs. Gottfredson and Jones (1993) correlated differentiation and vocational identity with 250 female and 495 male Navy recruits. Neither of the correlations in the gender groups was significant.…”

“…Several important studies examined profile elevation using samples with homogenous characteristics such as high achievers in high school (Leung et al, 1992), gender specific groups (Gottfredson & Jones, 1993), and individuals with undifferentiated profiles (e.g., Bullock & Reardon, 2005;Gottfredson & Jones, 1993). The implications of these studies would be more applicable to the particular groups under study.…”

“…The highest score also contributes considerably to the index of profile elevation, i.e., the total of the interest scores. Hence the common use of the highest score may subsequently cause the confounding relationship between differentiation and profile elevation (Bullock & Reardon, 2005;Gottfredson & Jones, 1993). Therefore, an examination of the interaction between these variables would be a desirable way to understand the concomitant relationship between differentiation and profile elevation on the one hand and vocational identity on the other.…”