Interests and intelligence: A meta-analysis

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine the nature and magnitude of the relationship between cognitive abilities and vocational interests — two important measures of individual differences. Our meta-analysis of 27 studies with 29 independent samples and an overall sample size of 55,297 participants demonstrated meaningful relations between cognitive abilities and vocational interests. Meta-analytic coefficients ranged from −0.29 to 0.47; their strength and direction were comparable for females and males. Furthermore, we established both age and birth cohort as moderators of the relation between interests and cognitive abilities. Limitations and implications for future research are discussed.