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Abstract

Barak (1981) identified self-perceived ability as a determinant of career interest. The purpose of the present study was to identify sources of perceptions of career-related abilities. The Self-Directed Search (SDS; Holland, 1985) was administered to college students to obtain self-ratings of career abilities. Parents of these students also completed the SDS ability ratings, as they applied to their children. A series of hierarchical regression analyses was conducted in which parent ratings of their children's abilities were entered after measures of general cognitive ability. The parents' ratings accounted for substantial amounts of variance in self-perceptions of career- related abilities for female and male students. These findings are discussed in relation to Barak's (1981) cognitive theory of career interests and counseling interventions to change career interests.

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Sources of Self-Perceptions of Career-Related Abilities

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