Description
Career Assessment Inventory™ The Enhanced Version (CAI) is an occupational interest inventory for college-bound and non-college-bound individuals.
Career Assessment Inventory™ The Enhanced Version (CAI) is an occupational interest inventory for college-bound and non-college-bound individuals.
Author:
Charles B. Johansson, PhD
Overview:Occupational interest inventory for college-bound and non-college-bound individuals
Age Range:Individuals 15 years and older
Administration:Paper-and-pencil, computer, Internet administration
Scoring Option:Q-global™ web-based, Q™ Local Software, Mail-in Scoring Service, or Internet Scoring
Reading Level:8th grade
Completion Time:35–40 minutes (370 items with 5-point rating scales)
Norms:900 working adults and students
Report Options:Profile and Interpretive
Publication Date:2003
Updated: The Career Assessment Inventory has been updated to provide additional occupations, new suggested readings, new vocational codes, and career resources on the web. See the Profile Report and Interpretive Report descriptions later on this page for more information.
Manage your Career Assessment Inventory – Enhanced testing program on-line: Click here for a DEMO.
(The vocational version of the Career Assessment Inventory focuses on careers requiring less than two years of post-secondary training.)
The Career Assessment Inventory – Enhanced Version assessment compares an individual’s occupational interests to those of individuals in 111 specific careers that reflect a broad range of technical and professional positions in today’s workforce. The inventory is used by guidance counselors to help students and adults develop career and study plans, and by psychologists and human resource professionals to advise individuals on career development.
How to Use This Inventory
This inventory can be used to help:
- Teach students to focus on the patterns of interest that are important in making educational and occupational choices
- High school and college students identify career directions and major areas of study
- Advise individuals who are re-entering the workforce, considering a career change, or who have been displaced
Key Features
- Provides scales for 111 occupations requiring varying amounts of post-secondary education.
- Easy to administer, taking only about 40 minutes to complete.
- Graphic and narrative test reports can be shared with the client and the narrative report provides a 3-page counselor’s summary.
- Combined gender scales allow for the broadest interpretation of survery results.
- The inventory closely matches the distribution of professional and nonprofessional jobs in the labor force, making it well-suited for assessing groups with a variety of career aspirations (e.g., complete high school populations).
Scales
| General Theme Scales | |
| R | Realistic Theme |
| I | Investigative Theme |
| A | Artistic Theme |
| S | Social Theme |
| E | Enterprising Theme |
| C | Conventional Theme |
Basic Interest Area Scales
Realistic Theme
Mechanical/Fixing
Electronics
Carpentry
Manual/Skilled Trades
Protective Service
Athletics/Sports
Nature/Outdoors
Animal Service
Investigative Theme
Mathematics
Scientific Research/Development
Medical Science
Artistic Theme
Writing
Creative Arts
Performing/Entertaining
Social Theme
Community Service
Education
Medical Service
Religious Activities
Enterprising Theme
Public Speaking
Law/Politics
Management/Supervision
Sales
Conventional Theme
Office Practices
Clerical/Clerking
Food Service
Occupational Scales
Realistic Theme
Aircraft Mechanic
Auto Mechanic
Bus Driver
Camera Repair Technician
Carpenter
Conservation Officer
Dental Lab Technician
Drafter
Electrician
Emergency Medical Technician
Farmer/Rancher
Firefighter
Forest Ranger
Hardware Store Manager
Janitor
Machinist
Mail Carrier
Military Enlisted
Military Officer
Musical Instrument Repairer
Orthotist/Prosthetist
Painter
Park Ranger
Pipefitter/Plumber
Police Officer
Printer
Radio/TV Repairer
Security Guard
Sheet-Metal Worker
Telephone Repairer
Tool/Die Maker
Truck Driver
Investigative Theme
Biologist
Chemist
Chiropractor
Computer Programmer
Computer Scientist
Dental Hygienist
Dentist
Dietitian
Economist
Electronic Technician
Engineer
Mathematician
Math/Science Teacher
Medical Lab Technician
Pharmacist
Physical Therapist
Physician
Psychologist
Radiologic Technician
Respiratory Therapy Technician
Surveyor
Veterinarian
Artistic Theme
Advertising Artist/Writer
Advertising Executive
Architect
Author/Writer
Chef
Interior Designer
Legal Assistant
Librarian
Musician
Newspaper Reporter
Photographer
Piano Technician
Social Theme
Athletic Trainer
Child Care Assistant
Cosmetologist
Counselor-Chemical Dependency
Elementary School Teacher
Guidance Counselor
Licensed Practical Nurse
Nurse’s Aide
Occupational Therapist
Operating Room Technician
Registered Nurse
Religious Leader
Enterprising Theme
Barber/Hairstylist
Buyer/Merchandiser
Card/Gift Shop Manager
Caterer
Elected Public Official
Florist
Food Service Manager
Hospital Administrator
Hotel/Motel Manager
Insurance Agent
Lawyer
Manufacturing Representative
Personnel Manager
Private Investigator
Purchasing Agent
Real Estate Agent
Reservation Agent
Restaurant Manager
Travel Agent
Conventional Theme
Accountant
Bank Manager
Bank Teller
Bookkeeper
Cafeteria Worker
Court Reporter
Data Input Operator
Dental Assistant
Executive Housekeeper
Medical Assistant
Pharmacy Technician
Secretary
Teacher’s Aide
Waiter/Waitress
Nonoccupational Scales
Fine Arts-Mechanical
Occupational Extroversion/Introversion
Educational Orientation
Variability of Interests
Psychometrics Information
Reference Samples (for the Theme Scales, Basic Interest Area Scales, and Occupational Scales)
The reference sample consisted of 900 employed adults and students. The sample was stratified by selecting cases from a larger sample so that 75 females and 75 males had their highest score on each of the six different theme scales.
Criterion Samples (for the Occupational Scales)
To be included in a criterion sample for one of the occupational scales, an individual had to:
- be currently employed in the appropriate job
- have at least two years of experience on the job
- respond positively to the question “Do you like your work?”
- be less than 70 years old
- have the proper accreditation or degree required for the occupation
Report Options
Profile Report (Product Number 51464)
Provides a graphical depiction of the individual’s score on each scale, a list of Additional Occupations to investigate, and a page of career resources on the web. There is an option to print “Understanding Your Results,” an in-depth description of how the results apply to the test taker.
View a sample Profile Report.
Interpretive Report (Product Number 51463)
Presents several pages of graphs and narrative statements that explain the significant score elevations on each scale. It also provides additional reference information relevant to the highest scores, such as a list of Additional Occupations to investigate and a page of career resources on the web, new O*Net codes (SOC-Standard Occupational Classification) and older DOT codes (Dictionary of Occupational Titles) if required, and page references to the Occupational Outlook Handbook. There is an option to print a Counselor’s Summary, which graphically represents the individual’s scores on each scale, and “Understanding Your Results,” which is an in-depth description of how the results apply to the test taker.
View a sample Interpretive Report.
Scoring and/or Reporting Options
Q-global™ Web-based Administration, Scoring, and Reporting – Enables you to quickly assess and efficiently organize examinee information, generate scores, and produce accurate comprehensive reports all via the Web.
Q Local™ Scoring and Reporting Desktop Software – Enables you to score assessments, report results, and store and export data on your computer.
Mail-in Scoring Service – Specially designed answer sheets are mailed to Pearson for processing within 24–48 hours of receipt; results returned via regular mail.
– Allows you to score the assessments at your site.
Internet Scoring – Offers flexibility and interactivity.
Getting Started with Q-Global Training Series
View these brief training modules about Q-global
Module 1: Gaining Access to Q-global
Module 2: Signing in and setting up your account
Questions
Frequently asked questions follow. Click on a question to see the response.
Test Content
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What is the difference between the Vocational Version and the Enhanced Version of the Career Assessment Inventory instrument?
Administration
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If I want to give one assessment to everyone (college-bound and non-college-bound), which assessment would you recommend?
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Can the interpretive report be given to the client?
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Does the Career Assessment Inventory instrument provide a counselor’s summary?
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What are the differences in occupational coverage between the Strong Interest Inventory and the Career Assessment Inventory-Enhanced?
