What Do Interest Inventories Measure? The Convergence and Content Validity of Four RIASEC Inventories
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Despite the widespread use of RIASEC interest inventories, little is known about whether these inventories actually measure the same core constructs and provide similar career recommendations to individuals. This study investigates the construct validity among four major interest inventories—the Self-Directed Search (SDS), O*NET Interest Profiler (IP), ACT Interest Inventory (UNIACT), and Strong Interest Inventory (SII). Results showed that RIASEC interest scores from the four inventories were highly correlated, but the measures often gave respondents different high-point codes. Item content analysis revealed that the basic interests reflected in each RIASEC scale both overlapped and diverged across inventories, providing an explanation for why RIASEC inventories are not interchangeable. We integrate findings across our analyses to offer cautionary notes for choosing among established RIASEC inventories and interpreting interest results. Furthermore, we also provide recommendations for constructing the next generation of basic interest inventories.
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RIASEC categories effectively capture general occupational themes, but their breadth obscures meaningful variability across underlying basic interests, which are more refined interest scales.
“Although the RIASEC categories effectively capture general occupational themes, their breadth obscures meaningful variability across underlying basic interests, which are more refined interest scales.”
From Interest Fit Beyond the RIASEC: The Comprehensive Assessment of Basic Interests—O*NET (CABIN-NET) (2026) · cites this paper as Chu et al., 2022
A recent study examining item content of major interest inventories revealed 11 core CABIN-based basic interests frequently assessed in RIASEC scales: mechanics, construction, physical science, music, visual arts, creative writing, teaching, social service, management, accounting, and office work.
“A recent study examining the item content of major interest inventories (Chu et al., 2022) revealed 11 core CABIN-based basic interests frequently assessed in RIASEC scales: mechanics (R), construction (R), physical science (I), music (A), visual arts (A), creative writing (A), teaching (S), social service (S), management (E), accounting (C), and office work (C).”
From Interest Fit Beyond the RIASEC: The Comprehensive Assessment of Basic Interests—O*NET (CABIN-NET) (2026) · cites this paper as Chu et al., 2022
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- Authors
- Chu, C., Russell, M. T., Hoff, K. A., Jonathan Phan, W. M., & Rounds, J.
- Affiliations
- University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (US)
- University of Houston (US)
- California State University, Long Beach, CA, USA
- Corresponding author
- Chu, Chu
- Venue
- Journal of Career Assessment
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2022-04-11
- Volume
- 30
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 776-801
- ISSN
- 1069-0727 (ISSN-L)
- 1552-4590
- OpenAlex
- W4223604136
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 53
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 7
- Type
- dissertation
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Career Assessment (publishedVersion, public-domain)
- Illinois Digital Environment for Access to Learning and Scholarship (University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign) (submittedVersion, public-domain)
- PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- OSF Preprints (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
- PsyArXiv (OSF Preprints) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Safety Research › Career Development and Diversity
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Applied Psychology › Psychological Testing and Assessment
- Keywords
- Self-Directed Search, Strong Interest Inventory, construct validity, content validity, career assessment, instrument comparability
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