Career interest testing, psychological congruence and the undecided student: a follow-up

Abstract

This study investigated the similarities between students who participated in the Career Interest Testing Groups at the Virginia Tech University Counseling Center and undecided students in general. Holland's Theory of Congruence was tested by examining the student's SCII and MBTI test results and doing a follow-up regarding achievement,persistence in school, changes of major and compatibility with final choice of major. The undecided students in this study resembled those in the literature on only two dimensions; having a low rate of graduation and a high incidence of personal problems. Holland“s Theory of Congruence did not hold up with this group. A scoring system, which indicated the degree of compatibility between the choices of major and test results, was used and indicated no movement toward greater congruence as the students changed majors. For those who did graduate in highly congruent majors, better grades did not result.

The conclusion was that undecided students at a select admissions university represent the more academically able and mature individuals among undecided students in general. As the literature predicted, this group did have a high drop out rate. The findings regarding Holland's Theory of Congruence have been mixed and the theory did not hold in this investigation.