Vocational interests in China: An evaluation of the Personal Globe Inventory-Short

A diverse Chinese sample of 2567 high school and college students was utilized to examine the structural validity of the PGI-S (Tracey, 2010) with respect to the fit to the circumplex structure, the theoretical model underlying the RIASEC types and the eight PGI (Tracey, 2002) interest types. The randomization test of hypothesized order relations (Hubert & Arabie, 1987) was conducted separately for eight basic interest scales and the six RIASEC scales for both the high school and college samples and by gender. Results indicated strong fit for the eight type and RIASEC models in each examination. Concurrent validity of the RIASEC scores from the PGI-S was examined as they covaried with the Self-Directed Search (SDS, Holland, 1994), however the SDS demonstrated poor structural validity and thus was not an appropriate criterion. Mean differences in the eight type scores were examined as they varied across age (high school vs. college) and gender. Men demonstrated greater Thing scale scores but there were no differences on People scales. People scales did manifest age differences with college students having higher scores. Low prestige was higher for males and college students. Results are discussed with respect to interests in China. •The responses of 2567 broadly representative Chinese to the PGI-S were examined.•There was a strong support for the circumplex structure for both the 8 type and RIASEC scales.•There were no structural differences due to gender or age (college vs. high school students).•There was a strong reliability (internal consistency and test–retest).