Interest: Meaning, Types and

Measurement | Psychology
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In this article we will discuss about:- 1. Meaning of Interest 2. Types

of Interest 3. Types of Tools 4. Limitation.
Meaning of Interest:
An interest is a subjective attitude motivating a person to perform a
certain task. It affords pleasure and satisfaction. It results in
curiosity towards the object of interest, enthusiasm to be attached
to the object, strength of will to face difficulties while engaged in the
task of one’s interest, a definite change in behaviour in the presence
of the object characterised by attention and concentration. Various
definitions of interest. Guidance exports make a further explanation
of interest from the guidance point of view.

Jones states, “Interest is a feeling of likening associated

with a reaction, either actual or imagined to a specific
thing or situation.”
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Bingham defines: “Interest is a tendency to become absorbed

in an experience and to continue it, while an aversion is a
tendency to turn away from it to something else.”
Types of Interest:
Jones mentions two distinct types of interests- extrinsic and
intrinsic. The former are pleasurable emotions connected with a
purpose or goal of an activity. It may involve fame, name, money,
victory or such external motives of conduct.

But the latter are connected with the activity itself, being basic and
real attraction without any external motive, This intrinsic interest is
continuous and permanent, even if the immediate goal is reached.
The extrinsic interest, dies as soon as the goal is reached.
Super and some other guidance experts have classified
interests into:
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(i) Expressed interest,

(ii) Manifest interest, and

(iii) Measured interest.

In the expressed interest the person expresses his personal likings

through such sentences as ‘I love sports’. Although, it is the first
source of knowing the interest of a person yet much reliance cannot
be based on it, as such expressions like permanency and are prone
to vary from time to time depending upon the maturity of the
person.

Manifest interest is the interest that is not expressed but observed

by others while the person is engaged and absorbed in an activity.
Newton forgot his meals while engaged in scientific experiments.

The measured interest is the estimate and account of a person’s

interest as revealed by some psychological tests or interest
inventories.

While knowing the interests of a person we can rely more on the

manifest interest and the measured interest rather than the
expressed interest. But it is not always practicable to know the
manifest interest for want of frequent situations arrange able
wherein the observer can observe the manifestation. Hence
measured interest is the usual source.

Types of Tools for Measuring Interest:

The tools for measurement of interest are of two types – formal and
informal. The formal methods are specialised and standardised
measuring instruments such as interest inventories, interest test
batteries.

The informal methods include the person’s own statement, a record

of his activities and observation by the parents and the teachers.
The former i.e., the informal methods are usually supplemented by
the informal methods.

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Three notable formal methods universally employed are:

1. Strong Vocational Interest Blank,

2. Kuder Preference Record, and

3. Thustone’s Vocational Interest Schedule.

A brief description of each is given below:

1. Strong Vocational Interest Blank:
Prof. Strong of Stanford University California designed and
standardised this check list. The check list contains 400 separate
items. It is presented to the individual and he is simply asked to
indicate whether he likes, dislikes or is indifferent, on a three point
scale.

The test reveals the interest maturity of the individual, his

masculinity and of femininity, and his occupational level. The 400
items include 100 occupations, 49 recreations, 36 school subjects,
48 activities and 47 peculiar interests. As such it is useful for both
educational and vocational guidance.

2. Kuder Preference Record:

This has been prepared by G. Frederic Kuder. This test covers a
wider field, comprising of nine separate scales of occupations, viz.
mechanical, computational, scientific, persuasive, artistic, literary,
musical, social and clerical. Kuder presupposes three major
interests viz. mechanical, literary and artistic. So when the same
task is presented to the subject, with three related activities, the
subject will select the activity that relates one of the three interests
that he possesses.

For instance, three choices are given about one item viz. building a
bird house, writing articles about birds and drawing sketches about
birds. If the subject opts for the first, his interest is mechanical.
Another example is presented.
The subject is asked to select the activity that he would
prefer the most, and the activity he would prefer the least
out of the following three:
(i) Visit an art gallery.

(ii) Browse in a library.

(iii) Visit a museum.

A triple activity regarding collections is:

(i) Collect autographs.

(ii) Collect coins.

(iii) Collect butterflies.

A detailed scoring system is employed for analysis and

interpretation. A percentile of 75 or above is considered
significantly high. If a person goes beyond P 75 in any of the areas,
all the occupations in that area are attractive for him.

3. Thurston’s Vocational Interest Schedule:

This test has been devised by Thurstone. He administered a
comprehensive test to 3400 college students who expressed their
Likeness (L). Indifference (I) and Dislike (D) to each of the items in
the test.

He analysed the test scores and through the techniques of

factor analysis, arrived at 8 factors of interest viz.;
(i) Commercial Interest,

(ii) Legal,

(iii) Athletic,

(iv) Academic,

(v) Descriptive,

(vi) Biological,
(vii) Physical Science,

(viii) Art.

Some less used interest tests are Hepner’s Vocational Interest

Quotient and Lufburrow’s Interest Blank. The latter is of the same
design as Strong’s Blank. It gives eleven families instead of nine, viz.
Artistic, Commercial, Constructions, Industrial, Scientific,
Humanistic literary, Transpositional, Mechanical and Technical.
Clecton’s vocational Interest Inventory deal with 9 groups of
occupations and contains 630 items.

The subject is to answer 40 questions and list his interests. There

are two more inventories which are specially prepared for women.
Manson’s Occupational Interest Bank is for guiding women. Stewart
and Brainard have prepared specific Interest Inventories of types,
one each for girls, women, boys and men. Any type (say for girls)
contains 20 groups of five questions dealing with no different
interests.

Limitation of Interest Inventories:

1. Some of the tests reveal ability rather than interest. But interest is
not the same thing as ability. So some tests are not fully valid or
reliable.

2. The tests presuppose that the subject possesses a particular

interest. But it can reveal the interest that is present at the time of
test, and not afterwards. The interests revealed may not remain
permanent. Moreover the interests are cultivable also. At the time of
testing a particular interest may not have developed fully, but it may
develop afterwards. It has been seen that some interests develop
during the vocation.

3. The interest inventories reveal facts on the basis of the report

given by the subject. The accuracy of the report is still a problem.
Some people do not reveal facts.

4. The questions in the inventories deal with certain types of

activities, and not all these lead to clear-cut vocations. Again, there
is much overlapping between one activity and another. An
occupation is not one interest but a combination of activities or
interests.

5. The predictictive side of the inventories have also been tested. On

investigation Proctor found that these have 25% permanence in
school studies. Strong finds correlation with future vocation as 0.75,
i.e., less + 1.

Inspite of the above limitations, Interest Inventories are very useful

in determining the future trends of the individual’s vocational life