Evaluation on Validation Practices of the Strong Interest Inventory: Gaps, Challenges, and Future Directions for Validation Studies

This paper aims to investigate the validation practices of the Strong Interest Inventory® (SII) in recent literature, focusing on three main objectives: (1) analyzing sample characteristics, (2) examining the validity theories adopted, and (3) compiling reported validity evidence. The review reveals that most validation studies rely on volunteer college students or employed adults, without offering clear justification for using these populations. A critical gap identified is the lack of explicit validation frameworks, which hampers the rigor of these studies. Additionally, the majority of validity evidence presented comes from test-criterion relationships, leaving other important sources of validity, such as test consequences and response processes, underexplored. To ensure the SII remains a reliable and effective tool for career counseling, future research should adopt more comprehensive and transparent validation frameworks, incorporate diverse validity evidence, and consider the contexts in which the SII is used. By addressing these gaps, researchers can contribute to more robust validation practices for this widely-used interest inventory.