Holland's Theory and the Development of Interest Inventories

This paper discusses how Holland's formulation of his hexagonal model to represent the structure of interests has influenced the development, validation, and application of interest inventories, especially the Strong–Campbell Interest Inventory (SCII), the Campbell Interest and Skill Survey (CISS), and the Strong Interest Inventory (SII). Holland's theory was especially potent in stimulating the major, and lasting, innovations Campbell (1974) created in the SCII: (1) The introduction of two kinds of content scales, the broad Holland scales and the more specific Basic Interest Scales; (2) the complete reorganization of the inventory within the hexagonal system; and (3) the building of a merged inventory for men and women.