INTEREST DETERMINATION, EXPLORATION AND ASSESSMENT SYSTEM (IDEAS)

A self-scoring interest inventory, the Interest Determination, Exploration and Assessment System (IDEAS) helps introduce middle school, junior high, and high school students and adults to career options and the world of work. Brief and easy to score and interpret, IDEAS identifies interests that can affect educational and vocational planning and direction.

IDEAS promotes an awareness of personal likes and dislikes that affect career development and direction. After answering the items, students score their responses and transfer the results to a profile in the test booklet. Each IDEAS booklet includes combined-gender norms (allowing students and adults to compare their scores with their peers), and descriptive paragraphs and further references about occupations.

An easy-to-read graph profiles an individual's scores.
Other features and benefits include:

  • Within 30 to 40 minutes, the inventory's 128 items can be answered, the responses self- scored, and the results graphically depicted for an informative profile of career interests.
  • The items appear in an easy-to-use five-choice response format: like very much, like somewhat, indifferent, dislike somewhat, dislike very much. The items cover school subjects, occupational titles, and activities.
  • Drawn from the CAI item pool, test items are easily comprehended at the sixth-grade level.
  • Sixteen interest scales are provided on the results report: mechanical/fixing, protective services, nature/outdoors, mathematics, science, medical, creative arts, writing, community service, education, child care, public speaking, business, sales, office practices, and food service.
  • Individuals can understand their results without extensive interpretation by a teacher or counselor.
  • Individuals can compare their scores with peers. Norm groups are provided separately for students in grade 7-9, students in grade 10-12, and adults.
  • Combined-gender norms promote exploration of a wide range of career options regardless of gender.
  • Supplemental material helps individuals match educational courses with their interests and provides references for more information.

TESTING TIME

Untimed; 30 to 40 minutes for students to answer, score, and profile their own results. (IDEAS is a self-scored instrument; answer sheets are not returned for scoring.)

REPORTS

One individual-generated profile to take home or keep for later reference, plus a teacher / counselor copy. IDEAS was updated in 1996 and now includes a 15-page workbook for each student in addition to the inventory.

MANUAL

A 70-page user / technical manual is available from MSTP ($28.60).