The Conceptualisation and Measurement of Vocational and Work Aspect Preferences

Attention to values/preferences related to work in the research and practice of guidance counselling has been restricted by at least two factors: firstly, Holland's theory that values are subsumed under vocational preferences; and secondly, the fact that comparatively few adequate measures of values are available to the guidance practitioner. Data are presented comparing measures of vocational and work aspect preferences, which clearly indicate that the two do not overlap substantially. In addition, further data are presented on the validity of the Work Aspect Preference Scale, with respect to course choice. The results of this study suggest that previous theoretical and psychometric obstacles to the research and counselling use of values/preferences related to work are no longer valid.