Unisex Edition of the ACT Interest Inventory

Items

UNIACT items emphasize work-relevant activities (e.g., build a picture frame, conduct a meeting, help settle an argument between friends) that are familiar to persons, either through participation or observation. Item content does not include occupational titles or specific job duties because persons needing help with career planning may have minimal or inaccurate knowledge about a wide range of occupations. Items are responded to using a three-choice response format (dislike, indifferent, like).

UNIACT items were carefully chosen to minimize gender-related differences in responses. Item content avoids activities subject to gender-role stereotypes. This feature of UNIACT minimizes gender divergences in the career options typically suggested to males and females and permits the use of combined-sex norms.

Scales

UNIACT results are reported for six scales paralleling the six interest and occupational types in John L. Holland's theory of careers. Scale titles and descriptions (with parallel Holland types in parentheses) are listed as follows:

• Science & Technology (Investigative): Investigating and attempting to understand phenomena in the natural sciences through reading, research, and discussion.
• Arts (Artistic): Expressing oneself through activities such as painting, designing, singing, dancing, and writing; artistic appreciation of such activities (e.g., listening to music, reading literature).
• Social Service (Social): Helping, enlightening, or serving others through activities such as teaching, counseling, working in service-oriented organizations, engaging in social-political studies.
• Administration & Sales (Enterprising): Persuading, influencing, directing, or motivating others through [Page 1668]activities such as sales, supervision, and aspects of business management.
• Business Operations (Conventional): Developing and/or maintaining accurate and orderly files, records, accounts, and so on; designing and/or following systematic procedures for performing business activities.
• Technical (Realistic): Working with tools, instruments, and mechanical or electrical equipment. Activities include designing, building, repairing machinery, and raising crops/animals.

History

The ACT Interest Inventory was first introduced in 1973. The UNIACT edition of the ACT Interest Inventory was introduced in 1977. Two major revisions of UNIACT, based on both item content considerations and empirical evidence of item performance, were undertaken in 1987–1989 and 2003–2006, leading to the current 90-item and 72-item versions of the inventory. The current versions are available in two levels: Level 1 is intended for students in Grades 8–12, and Level 2 is intended for college students and adults.

Underlying Theory

According to Holland's theory, relationships among Holland's six types can be represented by a hexagon. Types adjacent on the hexagon (e.g., Social and Artistic) resemble each other most, while types on opposite sides of the hexagon (e.g., Social and Realistic) resemble each other least. Holland's hexagon is a two-dimensional figure, thus suggesting that there are two underlying dimensions.

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