Is it Essential to Measure Intelligence Along with Aptitude Test for Career Guidance

ABSTRACTToday aptitude test for career assessment becomes more common among the young adults. Among the numbers of available aptitude tests, Differential Aptitude Test (DAT) is a widely used one. The more scientific way of career choice usually follows aptitude test next to intelligence, personality and interest tests. As it is not quite possible to administer the entire above mentioned tests, it can be possible to administer the aptitude test and intelligence test for a better career choice. Therefore this study was planned to found out the relationship of Aptitude and Intelligence Quotient for better career guidance. A total of 40 subjects have selected randomly from various undergraduate courses studying in Keshav Mahavidyalaya, University of Delhi. After taking their consent for the study and detailing the objective, all the participants were assessed SPM first. After a rest interval of 15 minutes, the DAT was administered. This study indicates that except the Perceptual Speed accuracy, Mechanical Reasoning and Spelling (P=0.01), there is no significant relationship exist between the other subtests of DAT with the Intelligence Quotient (P=0.01). The result also reveals that Intelligence Quotient (IQ) is significantly related to the most important subtest of DAT: Abstract Reasoning and Educational Aptitude. In this regard can be said that, although there is no significant relationship exist between the all the subtests of DAT with SPM but it is satisfying the relationship with abstract reasoning and educational aptitude. Therefore Aptitude test with intelligence may be suggested a better assessment for career guidance especially in educational set up.Keywords: Educational aptitude, Abstract reasoning, Intelligence quotient, Career choice.INTRODUCTION:Career guidance is a common measure before career choice in all developed countries. But still it is neglect in most of the developing and underdeveloped countries. Therefore in the recent time, career guidance is an emergent method of career choice for the career aspirants. The method of career guidance is not only helpful for the job aspirants but also for the job providing firms only to satisfy the purpose of right person for right job. It will directly help to improve the production and performance of the organization and indirectly help the economy of countries. Besides these above benefits, the employee?s job satisfaction and work motivation level will be increased.Choice of a career in developing and underdeveloped countries are still with the pressure of family without giving importance to the abilities (aptitude) and intelligence of the personnel who will be assigned a career. In some cases peer pressure also play a vital role for career choice. As the result, un-employability increased and in some cases due to inappropriate choice of career leads to frustration in job or loss of job. In this regard a scientific method of career choice following career guidance and career counseling using the scientific measures can help a young aspirant better career choice.REVIEW OF LITERATURE:Scientific measure of career choice can only augment the chance of better academic performance and employability in an adolescent?s future life. In this regards Cohen and Swerdlik (2002) avowed that to achieve the academic and eventual career goals, it is necessary to determine the factors that facilitate scholastic achievement in general and academic skills in particular. The purpose can be satisfied with use of psychological measures such as test of aptitude, intelligence, personality and interest (Vasantha 1977; Yadav 1979). But in many cases it is not possible to measure all above mentioned tests. Therefore aptitude test suggested as the only option for career guidance.The concept of aptitude may be defined as the capacity which tends the people to work actively, rationally and scientifically. It is the quality of human being to show themselves in a better way. …