The grid technique in the assessment of aspirations and vocational constructs

The aim of the study was to identify the occupational aspirations and thematic content of vocational constructs of 112 secondary school students belonging to the Yaqui Indian community (Sonora, Mexico), through the application of an ideographic version of the Vocational Grid (VG). We performed a qualitative content analysis of the elements and constructs of the VG to identify categories of occupational aspirations and to develop a classification system of vocational constructs. Most students mentioned the aspiration to exercise jobs requiring higher education; the most common constructs were "social contribution" and "intellectual development". Gender differences and vocational guidance needs were identified. It is concluded that VG is useful to evaluate the system of vocational constructs of this group of students. The VG provides information and identify idiosyncratic specific needs, useful in designing relevant programs of vocational guidance. (C) 2017 Colegio Oficial de Psicologos de Madrid. Published by Elsevier Espana, S.L.U. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license