about wowi
Dr. Robert E. Ripley revolutionized the field of career assessment by developing the first inventory to use a fully integrated, multidimensional format.
The development of the World of Work Inventory began in 1961 when Dr. Ripley was teaching graduate courses in Occupational and Educational Information and Psychological Testing.
The tests and inventories being taught to graduate students at that time were frequently not relevant to the actual jobs at which most people would be working. In addition, they seemed to be used by most individuals to tell them what to do rather than to provide a means for the process of further self-exploration. More emphasis was given to the psychometric measurement factors than the job relevancy of the instruments.
During these years Dr. Ripley made many attempts to analyze the frustrations of the test takers and tests users. There was irritation due to timing a test where speed was not a major component of the job. Many of the test publishers did not appear to take into account reading levels, size of print in the test booklet, spacing of material, etc. There was little self-involvement in the tests results by the test taker as there were few systematic methods to move the person to the next step in occupational exploration.
Although occupational exploration materials have been readily available from the United States Department of Labor for the past 30 years, few people have used these materials because the tests did not coordinate with the Dictionary of Occupational Titles and the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Also, most tests primarily emphasized the professional occupations with little attempt to expose the individual to the broader fields of employment.
While working as a consultant to the United States Department of Labor, Dr. Ripley traveled throughout the United States surveying the similarities and differences in the world of work. Based on his observations, he concluded that there was a need to develop an instrument which would integrate the existing materials with recent insights into the areas of occupations and careers.
The World of Work Inventory, therefore, is the result of 12 years of researching, observing, teaching and consulting in the areas of psychological testing and occupational exploration. It is an attempt at resolving these previous problem areas through the use of a comprehensive instrument which takes a holistic approach to the individual and their vocational environment.
Dr. Robert E. Ripley revolutionized the field of career assessment by developing the first inventory to use a fully integrated, multidimensional format.
The development of the World of Work Inventory began in 1961 when Dr. Ripley was teaching graduate courses in Occupational and Educational Information and Psychological Testing.
The tests and inventories being taught to graduate students at that time were frequently not relevant to the actual jobs at which most people would be working. In addition, they seemed to be used by most individuals to tell them what to do rather than to provide a means for the process of further self-exploration. More emphasis was given to the psychometric measurement factors than the job relevancy of the instruments.
During these years Dr. Ripley made many attempts to analyze the frustrations of the test takers and tests users. There was irritation due to timing a test where speed was not a major component of the job. Many of the test publishers did not appear to take into account reading levels, size of print in the test booklet, spacing of material, etc. There was little self-involvement in the tests results by the test taker as there were few systematic methods to move the person to the next step in occupational exploration.
Although occupational exploration materials have been readily available from the United States Department of Labor for the past 30 years, few people have used these materials because the tests did not coordinate with the Dictionary of Occupational Titles and the Occupational Outlook Handbook. Also, most tests primarily emphasized the professional occupations with little attempt to expose the individual to the broader fields of employment.
While working as a consultant to the United States Department of Labor, Dr. Ripley traveled throughout the United States surveying the similarities and differences in the world of work. Based on his observations, he concluded that there was a need to develop an instrument which would integrate the existing materials with recent insights into the areas of occupations and careers.
The World of Work Inventory, therefore, is the result of 12 years of researching, observing, teaching and consulting in the areas of psychological testing and occupational exploration. It is an attempt at resolving these previous problem areas through the use of a comprehensive instrument which takes a holistic approach to the individual and their vocational environment.
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Lead Programmer: Tara Munier
Lead Programmer: Tara Munier