Interests, Work Values, and Occupations: Predicting Work Outcomes With the WorkKeys Fit Assessment

an article by Kyle B. Swaney, Jeff Allen, Alex Casillas, Mary Ann Hanson and Steven B. Robbins (ACT, Inc., Iowa City, USA) published in Journal of Career Assessment Volume 20 Number 4 (November 2012)

Abstract

This study examined whether a measure of person-environment (P-E) fit predicted worker ratings of work attitudes and supervisor ratings of performance.

After combining extant data elements and expert ratings of interest and work value characteristics for each occupation in the O*NET system, the authors generated a “Fit Index” – involving profile correlations between individual interest and work value score profiles and corresponding occupational profiles – for each occupation.

The authors then conducted an extensive field study of 503 adult workers and 219 supervisors. The construct validity of the fit scores was supported by the patterns of over 477,000 scores across same, similar, and dissimilar occupations.

Results also supported the association of person–occupation fit with desirable work attitudes and outcomes, and the incremental validity of fit when including a measure of integrity. These results add support to the idea that P-E fit can be useful in personnel staffing.

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