64 ETUDE PSYCHOMETRIQUE D’INGENIEURS-TECHNICIENS

A N N E X E

Questionnaire relatif aux aspirations professionelles

Les candidats sont invitb 8 classer strictement les activitb propostes de la plus inttressante (rang 1) la moins inttressante (rang 7), c.8.d. en utilisant donc un rang et un seul pour chaque activitt.

Questionnaire Travailler : (a) Dans le secteur de la fabrication, ou sur un chantier.

( b ) En qualitt d’adjoint du chef d’exploitation (organisation pratique du travail, contact avec les contremdtres et les ouvriers).

Travailler en qualit6 d’attacht aux services commerciaux (relation avec la clientkle, vente et dtmonstration de machines, d’appareils ou conduite de ntgociations avec le maftre d’aeuvre).

Travailler : (a) En qualit6 de constructeur dans un bureau technique (6tudes,

( b ) SpEcialiste dam un laboratoire d’essais. projets, mise au point de prototypes ou de maquettes).

Travailler dans un laboratoire de type universitaire dans le secteur de la recherche fondamentale (sans avoir ?I se soucier de l’incidence pratique des problkmes 6tudib). Travailler dans le secteur administratif (tenir 8 jour une documentation technique importante, faire de la correspondance, etc.). Travailler dans le secteur de la publicitt et des relations publiques (rtdiger des articles de type technique destints soit 8 la clientkle soit au grand public, repr6- senter l’entreprise 8 des foires internationals, etc.). S’occuper d‘organisations d‘entreprises (dans le cadre d’un bureau spCci&, par exemple d’un cabinet d’organisateurs conseils).

A PSYCHOMETRIC STUDY OF A P O P U L A T I O N OF TECHNICAL COLLEGE ENGINEERING STUDENTS

J . B . DUPONT, F . G E N D R E , A . P A R I S O D , and A . S P E C K

Within the framework of an investigation into technical occupations, the study reported in the present article concerns pupils in their final year at the Higher Technical College of Geneva. These pupils constitute a group intermediate to pro- fessional qualified engineers on the one hand, and skilled tradesmen on the other. The group consited of 183 pupils (mean age 22-3 years) enrolled in different departments of the college (Civil Engineering, Architecture, Chemical and Nuclear Engineering, Electrical Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering).

J. B. DUPONT, F. GENDRE, A. PARISOD, ET A. SPECK 65

A preliminary attempt at validating various predictors (psychological tests, interests, etc.) against the criterion variables (teachers’ reports) proved unsatis- factory, and so a factor analysis of the teachers’ reports was undertaken revealing the existence of factors related to each year of study (i.e. pupils studying various subjects, but being taught at the same time) but not factors linking the same and closely similar subjects. This cast doubt on the reliability of the teachers’ reports. Following a simultaneous factor analysis of the predictors, a second attempt at validation was undertaken, comparing this time not the initial measures, but the criterion factors and the predictor factors derived from them. The results, how- ever, taking the student population as a whole, were not much more satisfactory. However, there were signficant differences between departmental means, and the predictors did permit a significant distinction to be made between departments, and hence could up to a point be used as a means of guidance.

Commenting on the results, the authors formulate a number of propositions which could serve as hypotheses for a new inquiry, in which attention would be paid in particular to areas not so far considered, such as personal history, motiva- tion, and so on.