Article archive / August 1, 2014
Originally published: . Volume 5, No. 12. Source pages: 13.
Dr. Wyndolyn Ludwikowski Ability and Vocational Outcomes Dr. Patrick Armstrong
Dr. Wyndolyn Ludwikowski, Assistant Professor in Psychology at Xavier University in New Orleans, will present, “Impact of an Ability Measure in Predicting Vocational Outcomes.” Her co-author is Dr. Patrick Armstrong.
Ludwikowski examined the extent to which an ability measure provided incremental validity beyond self-reports of interests, confidence, occupational choice and other characteristics. In a group of 843 college students the researchers found that ability did not contribute to individuals’ major or occupational decision-making, and it pays an insignificant roles in whether participants reported satisfaction in their major.
Currently Dr. Ludwikowski is establishing the Vocational Exploration Laboratory in the Department of Psychology at Xavier. She and her students are working on projects using archival data to look at how students’ interests and abilities predict STEM students academic success.
“We hypothesize that students’ interest and ability congruence with major choice will predict longevity within STEM majors, success in STEM majors, and retention at Xavier University,” Ludwikowski told the Times. “Additionally, we will collect data on current students at Xavier University regarding variables that may help us better understand sex and racial/ethnic differences in STEM-related vocational interests and confidence. We will examine the impact of within group differences regarding gender identity, centrality of racial identity, and various learning experiences individuals have encountered throughout their lifetimes on vocational outcome variables.”
Dr. Ludwikowski (Courtesy photo)
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