Cross-cultural validation of Holland's interest structure in chinese population

Abstract

This study evaluated Holland's (1973, 1985, 1997) structural hypotheses - circular order and circumplex - in two populations in China at both the subtest (Activities, Competencies, Occupational Preferences, and Self-ratings on Abilities) and the entire test levels of the Self-Directed Search (SDS; Holland, 1994). Confirmatory factor analyses suggested that the circumplex model was generally not supported for Chinese people. Randomization tests of hypothesized order relations suggested that the circular order model fit both Mainland China and Hong Kong samples at the Activities and Occupational Preferences subtests. Randomization tests of differences in fit indicated that there was generally no cultural or gender differences in terms of model fit. Theoretical and practical implications were discussed. © 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.