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Why does the trait-state relation in vocational interests differ from that in personality? Exploring interest variability in daily life

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Roemer, Lena, Stoll, Gundula, Rounds, James, Ziegler, Matthias·2023·Journal of Research in Personality
DOI 10.1016/j.jrp.2023.104386
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Abstract

Interests have been studied from a trait- and state-perspective. Recent studies propose to integrate these two traditions. This preregistered experience-sampling study (N = 217, Nobservations = 5,631) aimed to further the development of trait-state interest models. We sought to replicate and explain that vocational interest states vary within persons and exhibit a pattern of varying mainly below respective trait levels. We tested competing assumptions about the conceptualization of interest states. Across two operationalizations using items that were (not) tailored to participants’ daily lives, states varied mainly below trait levels. This suggests that this pattern is no measurement artifact, but that interest traits generally constrain the experience of states in daily life. Overall, the results refine the conceptualization of trait-state interests, suggesting new research directions.

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  • Vocational interests and personality traits describe distinct aspects of human individuality.

    “It is important to note, however, that although vocational interests and personality traits might share similar psychological processes (Hoff, Song, Einarsdóttir, et al., 2020;Mount et al., 2005), the two phenomena describe distinct aspects of human individuality (see also Roemer et al., 2023).”

    From The German O*NET Interest Profiler Short Form (2023) · cites this paper as Roemer et al., 2023

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Sorted by citations

  • The German O*NET Interest Profiler Short Form

    Roemer, L., Lewis, P., & Rounds, J. (2023) · Psychological Test Adaptation and Development · doi:10.1027/2698-1866/a000048 · Cited by 8 · see citing works

    “It is important to note, however, that although vocational interests and personality traits might share similar psychological processes (Hoff, Song, Einarsdóttir, et al., 2020; Mount et al., 2005), the two phenomena describe distinct aspects of human individuality (see also Roemer et al., 2023).”
    BackgroundSelf-citation

Authors
Roemer, L., Stoll, G., Rounds, J., & Ziegler, M.
Affiliations
  • GESIS - Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences (DE)
  • University of Tübingen (DE)
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
  • Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (DE)
Corresponding author
Roemer, Lena
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Research in Personality
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2023-08
Volume
105
Pages
104386
ISSN
0092-6566 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.jrp.2023.104386
OpenAlex
W4380342470
Cited by
10
References
10
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 1
FWCI
2.62
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Research in Personality (publishedVersion)
  • PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
  • PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
  • OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Personality Traits and Psychology
  • Social Sciences › Safety Research › Career Development and Diversity
  • Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
Keywords
career interest, personality traits, everyday life, ecological momentary assessment, measurement artifacts

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