Card Sorting
Gabriela LEMENI, Mihaela PORUMB
Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences,
University Babeş-Bolyai, Cluj NapocaHistory
Card sorting enjoys particular attention among career counselling evaluation methods
(Goldman, 1983; Slaney and MacKinnon-Slaney, 1990, 2000). In general, studies suggest
that card sorting is an intervention whose efficiency is comparable to standardized
instruments such as: SCII – Strong-Campbell Interest Inventory (Cooper, 1976; Slaney,
1978); SVIB – Strong Vocational Interest Blank (Dolliver and Will, 1977); SDS –
Self-Directed Search (Lawler, 1979, Takai and Holland, 1979).
Starting from Tyler’s original work and integrating extensions and clarifications due to
Dolliver, a series of card sorting techniques were subsequently developed. Of these,
according to the main meta-analyses, five have a more elaborate theoretical support
(Dolliver, 1981; Slaney and Wade, 1994):
- Dewey’s Non-Sexist Vocational Card Sorting (NSVCS – Dewey, 1974).
- The Missouri Occupational Card Sorting (MOCS – Krieshok, Hansen,
Johnston, 1982). - The Vocational Exploration and Insight Kit (VEIK – Holland, 1980).
- The Missouri Occupational Preference Inventory (MOPI – Moore, Gysbers,
1980). - Slaney’s Vocational Card Sorting (SVCS – Slaney, 1978, 1983).