Cognitive complexity and interest crystallization

The relationship between cognitive differentiation and vocational interest crystallization was investigated. Ninety-six career counselees filled in the RAMAK vocational interest inventory. Then, each subject's occupational constructs were elicited by comparing triads of occupations. Finally each subject rated 24 occupations on his/her elicited constructs. Interest crystallization was defined on the basis of the salient scales in the interest inventory, taking into account the structure of interests. Cognitive differentiation was measured by between- and within-constructs differentiation, ordination, intensity, and conflict and by the difference between the perception of an ideal and a rejected occupation. The relationships between the various measures of cognitive differentiation were generally low, suggesting that they capture different aspects of cognitive complexity. The results indicate that interest crystallization is related to the between-construct differentiation, but not to the other measures of cognitive complexity. The implications for research and counseling are discussed.