Cognitive styles and educational-vocational preferences and selection.

This study was designed to test the general hypothesis that individuals selecting vocationally distinctive educational pathways exhibit different cognitive styles, and that cognitive styles are related to the ease and nature of vocational decision making. Three hundred twenty-eight female students representing the fields of nursing, special education, home economics, and dental hygiene, as well as an undecided group, and 37 males in pharmacy and fisheries technology were given the Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI) and several measures of cognitive style. Several differences in cognitive style were observed; these differences were to some degree associated with other personality differences. No differences were observed regarding cognitive style variations and VPI high-point codes or ease of vocational selection. The effects of personality organization and style on vocational preference, selection, attainment, and behavior have been studied extensively. The results of these studies suggest that personality plays an important role in career development but the nature of that role and the particular personal attributes that are important to observe for the understanding of career development remain uncertain (Osipow, 1968). Notable among the attempts to relate personality to occupational preference and selection is Holland's (1966) theory. Holland has proposed six occupational environments differentially attractive to individuals varying in personality attributes. In the course of his studies Holland has reported data which indicate the preliminary validity of his general hypothesis, but which do not clearly identify the forces involved in the particular development of