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Exploring vocational and academic fields of study: development and validation of the Flemish SIMON Interest Inventory (SIMON-I)

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Abstract

A new, Holland-based Interest Inventory is proposed, intended to facilitate the transition from secondary to tertiary education. Specific interest items were designed to grasp activities that are prevalent during tertiary studies, including an Academic-track-scale to assist in the choice between academic and vocational-oriented programs. Interest profile descriptions are complemented by a list of matching study programs. Data from 3,962 students were analyzed to evaluate the underlying circumplex structure, the criterion validity of the Academic-track-scale and the study program RIASEC codes. It is concluded that the assessment and feedback tools are promising instruments to facilitate the transition to tertiary education.

Résumé

Explorer les domaines d’études professionnelles et académiques: Développement et validation de l’inventaire d’intérêt flamand SIMON (SIMON-I). Un nouvel inventaire d'intérêt basé sur la théorie de Holland est proposé comme une aide à la transition entre l’enseignement secondaire et tertiaire. Les items étaient construits spécifiquement pour mesurer des intérêts aux activités qui sont prévalent pendant l’enseignement tertiaire, incluant une échelle ‘Académique’ qui aide la choix entre l’enseignement académique soit professionnelle. Les profils d’intérêts sont complété par une liste des programmes correspondent. Les réponses de 3,962 étudiants sont utilisé pour évaluer la structure circumplex, la validité critérielle de l’échelle ‘Académique’ et les codes RIASEC des programmes. Il a été conclu que cet inventaire est valide et utile.

Zusammenfassung

Erforschung beruflicher und akademischer Forschungsfelder: Entwicklung und Validation des flämischen SIMON Interesseninventars (SIMON-I). Ein neues, Holland-basiertes Interesseninventar wird vorgestellt, welches beabsichtigt den Übergang von der sekundären in die tertiäre Ausbildung zu vereinfachen. Spezifische Interessenitems wurden entwickelt um Tätigkeiten zu erfassen, welche in der tertiären Ausbildung überwiegen; inklusive einer „akademischen“Skala um die Wahl zwischen akademischen und beruflich-orientierten Programmen zu unterstützen. Beschreibungen von Interessenprofilen werden durch Listen passender Studiengänge ergänzt. Daten von 3,962 Schülerinnen und Schülern wurden analysiert um die darunterliegende zirkumplexe Struktur, die Kriteriumsvalidität der akademischen Skala und den RIASEC Code der Studienprogramme zu evaluieren. Die Arbeit kommt zum Schluss, dass die Instrumente zum Assessment und zum Feedback ein vielversprechendes Mittel sind, um den Übergang in die tertiäre Ausbildung zu vereinfachen.

Resumen

Explorando campos profesionales y académicos de estudio: Desarrollo y validación del Inventario de Intereses flamenco SIMON (SIMON-I). Se propone un nuevo inventario de interés basado en Holland, destinado a facilitar la transición de la educación secundaria a la superior. Se diseñaron ítems específicos, con el fin de captar las actividades frecuentes durante los estudios superiores, incluyendo una Escala de Trayectoria Académica, para ayudar a la elección entre programas académicos frente a programas orientados a la formación profesional. Las descripciones de perfiles de interés se complementaron con una lista de programas de estudios adecuados. Se analizaron los datos de 3,962 estudiantes para evaluar la estructura subyacente circumplex, el criterio de validez de la Escala de Trayectoria Académica y el programa de estudio de acuerdo con los códigos RIASEC. Como conclusión las herramientas de evaluación y retroalimentación son instrumentos prometedores para facilitar la transición a la educación superior.

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Notes

  1. The People/Things dimension: (2*R) + (1*I) + (−1*A) + (−2*S) + (−1*E) + (1*C).

    The Data/Ideas dimension: (0*R) + (−1.7*I) + (−1.7*A) + (0*S) + (1.7*E) + (1.7*C).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Ghent University, Henri Dunantlaan 2, 9000, Ghent, Belgium

    Lot Fonteyne, Bart Wille, Wouter Duyck & Filip De Fruyt

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  1. Lot Fonteyne
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  2. Bart Wille
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  3. Wouter Duyck
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  4. Filip De Fruyt
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Correspondence to Lot Fonteyne.

Appendix

Appendix

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Table 8 English translation of the SIMON-I questionnaire
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Fonteyne, L., Wille, B., Duyck, W. et al. Exploring vocational and academic fields of study: development and validation of the Flemish SIMON Interest Inventory (SIMON-I). Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 17, 233–262 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-016-9327-9

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