Theoretical background
Strong studied answers to questionnaires of interests given by “people-in-general”,
comparing them against answers given by people belonging to various professional
groups, thus identifying the specificity of the system of interests of the persons exerting
certain professions. Statistically significant items could be delimited regarding the system
of interests for certain occupational groups (in the beginning there were 70, then 124).
Further research has extended over the relationship between the score of occupational
interests and age, special aptitudes or other important human characteristics.
Below is an example to be answered with I like, I dislike, I neither like nor dislike:
I like I neither like nor dislike I dislike
I like being an actor
I like botanical science
I like writing reports
Etc.SII is mainly used as a means of supporting clients in their decision-making concerning
long-term career planning, studies, future occupation or profession, in sum it is for
“anyone in need of help with their career or in making a decision regarding their lifestyle”
(Hansen, 1992).
This inventory supports clients already employed with the process of understanding
professional dissatisfaction, offers by means of counselling some solutions regarding the
personal lifestyle and career development throughout life.
The genesis of this instrument is based on experimental research of the professional
insertion and satisfaction at the workplace of various categories of population, case
studies and occupational statistical analyses.
Method presentation
Strong inventory of interests comprises:
- six general occupational themes (using Holland codes for profiles of
“occupational personality”) and - 23 scales of basic interests.