Priority of criteria used for occupational ratings: A study of Gottfredson\u27s theory of circumscription and compromise

This study was intended to validate Gottfredson\u27s (1981) proposition concerning the priority of criteria used in the circumscription and compromise processes. A repeated measure factorial design was conducted with the four criteria (compatibility between occupation and interest, compatibility between occupation and ability, prestige level, and gender-appropriateness) as four independent variables, condition and stimuli type as two moderating variables, and occupational ratings as the dependent variable. Data from 62 college students were analyzed to examine the main effects of the four criteria, moderating effects of condition and stimuli type on the relative importance of the four criteria, and the overall predictive ability of the four criteria on occupational ratings. The major findings revealed partial support for Gottfredson\u27s theory. First, compatibility between occupation and interest, compatibility between occupation and ability, and prestige level had effects on occupational ratings, but gender-appropriateness did not. This held true regardless of the condition (a circumscription versus compromise process) under which the rating is made or the stimuli type (an actual versus hypothesized occupation) in which the occupation is presented for ratings. Second, occupational ratings, the pattern of the relative importance associated with the four criteria, and the overall predictive ability of the four criteria, were similar in both the circumscription and compromise processes. Third, occupational ratings, the pattern of the relative importance associated with the four criteria, and the overall predictive ability of the four criteria differed for actual versus hypothesized occupations. The average occupational rating was higher on hypothesized occupations than on actual occupations. On ratings of actual occupations, the relative importance associated with the four criteria seemed to be similar, while on ratings of hypothesized occupations, compatibility between occupation and interest, compatibility between occupation and ability, and prestige level showed relatively larger influences than gender-appropriateness. The overall predictive ability of the four criteria together was higher for hypothesized occupational ratings than for actual occupational ratings. Implications for Gottfredson\u27s theory and career counseling are discussed and recommendations for future research are included