Module V: Interest and Attitude

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 characterized by attention
and concentration. 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.” 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. The 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:

(i) Expressed interest

(ii) Manifest interest
(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.

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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 specialized and standardized 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. Three notable formal methods universally
employed are:

i. Strong Vocational Interest Blank

ii. Kuder Preference Record
iii. Thustone’s Vocational Interest Schedule

1. Strong Vocational Interest Blank: Prof. Strong of Stanford University California designed
and standardized 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.

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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 Thurston. 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 are:

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,

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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 predictive side of the inventories has 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.

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Attitude

Meaning and Definition of Attitude

It is clear that an attitude is not hereditary; a person develops it on the basis of his experiences.
Another fact in this regard is that a person can form positive or negative feelings toward an
object, person, activity or thought. Thus, an attitude towards an object, person, activity or
thought may be positive or negative. Thurston has defined an attitude as a measure of positive
and negative thought factor. An attitude is the degree of positive or negative effect associated
with some psychological object -Thurston. Freeman has defined “An attitude is a dispositional
readiness to response to certain situations, persons or objects in a consistent manner, which has
been learned and has become one’s typical mode of response. Attitudes are the mental feelings of
a person towards an object, person, activity or thought which are developed by his own
experiences regarding that object, person, activity or thought and which direct him to react to
these accordingly.

In order to understand the concept of attitude clearly, it is necessary to differentiate it from other
similar concepts.

Nature and Characteristics of Attitude

On the basis of foregoing discussion, the nature and characteristics of attitude may be
summarized as follows:

i. Attitude is a mental talent of a person towards an object, person, activity or thought.

ii. Attitude can be either positive or negative.
iii. Attitude is related to one’s own experiences.
iv. Emotions prove helpful in the development of attitude.
v. Development of attitudes occurs due to social relations.
vi. Attitudes of a person are stable so long he does not experiences otherwise; they are
subject to change on the basis of environment and experiences.
vii. Attitudes influence the personality of a person.

Types of Attitudes

Attitudes are generally classified as follows:

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1. Positive Attitude: When a person likes and accepts an object, person, activity or thought and
is attracted towards it and tries to adjust himself according to that object, person, activity or
thought. It is called his positive attitude towards that object, person, activity or thought.

2. Negative Attitude: When a person dislikes and rejects an object, activity or thought and tries
to make distance from that object, person, activity or thought, it is called his negative attitude
towards such object, person, activity or thought.

3. General Attitude: The attitude which is expressed in general or collective term towards an
object, person, activity or thought is called general attitude, such as motherly affection towards
women.

4. Specific Attitude: The attitude which is specifically expressed towards an object, person,
activity or thought is called specific attitude; such as, special love and devotion to one’s own
mother.

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