Development of a leisure/work interest inventory

Abstract

The major purpose of this study was to develop an interest inventory that applies to both work and leisure activities. Data were collected from a sample of community college students and community adults enrolled in basic psychology courses. Development of the inventory was based on review of the literature concerning both career and leisure counseling. Specific scales on the inventory were selected deliberately to cover the range of basic interests included in both leisure and career inventories. Interest scales that were retained for the final form of the inventory were based on analysis by qualified judges and a subsequent statistical analysis. Statistical techniques used in analyzing the data include internal consistency estimates, interscale correlation, test-retest reliability estimates and concurrent validity estimates. The results of this study have implications for use of an inventory in career counseling settings that is consistent with contemporary career counseling which includes leisure as an important part.