Congruence and Differentiation as Predictors of Workers' Occupational Stability and Job Performance

Abstract
This study examined the relation between vocational interests and job congruence and (a) stability at work and (b) supervisors' evaluations. Congruence scores were based on a comparison between interest scores, as measured before employment, and occupational field after 1 year. Significant correlations (.19 to .31, n = 774) were found between congruence and job stability (persistence) and between congruence and performance (.09 to .27, for 90 males employed in the Business or Technology occupational fields), but not among 51 employed in the Organization field. Differentiation was found to make a negligible contribution in predicting stability and performance evaluations. The findings are discussed in light of the size of the correlation coefficients, the diversity of the Organization field, the Courses Inventory as a means for measuring vocational interests, and the method of measuring congruence differentiation.