SVIB SCORES AND PROGRAMMER KEY: VOCATIONAL INTERESTS OF COMPUTER PROGRAMMERS

摘要

The revised Strong Vocational Interest Blank (SVIB) and a background informa¬tion form were administered to 1378 computer programmers who were contacted through one of three sources: (l) membership in the Association for Computing Machinery, (2) membership in the Data Processing Management Association, or (3) through their employing organizations in business, industry, education, and government. The total group of participants was reduced, for major analy¬ses, to 1003 male programmers who had at least two years of programming experi¬ence, whose jobs consisted primarily of non-supervisory programming tasks, and who indicated satisfaction with programming as an occupation.nProgrammers differ from other professional men primarily in their greater interest in problem-solving activities, including both mathematics and mechani¬cal pursuits, and their lesser interest in people. They also show somewhat greater inclination to avoid both regimentation and aesthetic activity. Their interests are most similar to optometrists, chemists, engineers, production managers, mathematics-science teachers, and senior certified public accountants, among the occupations for which interest keys have been developed;but none of these keys adequately represents the interests of programmers.nA Programmer interest key was developed on one half of the sample and evaluated on the remaining half. The key provides good differentiation between program¬mers and men in general, and programmers satisfied with their occupation score significantly higher than dissatisfied programmers. Several key construction techniques were applied. One that is still in process may provide a more effective key.nNormative data are provided for the key, and its potential usefulness in coun¬seling, guidance, and selection are discussed.