Circumscribing the constructs of academic
interests, attitudes, and values is particularly difficult (Corno
et al., 2002). As noted by Corno et al., values and attitudes
are often classified as affective, interests as both motivational
and affective, and beliefs as having both cognitive and volitional
characteristics. Furthermore, values and career orientations
are often discussed in the context of personality factors. For
example, Holland (1973, 1985) developed a theory of personality
based on the importance of 6 general career theme orientations
(investigative, social, realistic, conventional, artistic, and
enterprising).
In this document, I subscribe to Corno et
al.’s (2002) decision to group these diverse domains
together. Although Corno et al. (1996) included general
values and career orientations in their aptitude taxonomy, they are
dropped from the current taxonomy due to the paucity of evidence in
support of their ability to predict academic or occupational
outcomes (Cronbach, 1990).
