Reference and Permission to Use Basic Interest Markers (BIMs) are copyrighted by Hsin-Ya Liao, Patrick Ian Armstrong, and James Rounds. Permission to use BIMs is granted for free to all professionals (researchers and practitioners) if it is used for noncommercial purposes. Appropriate credit should be given to the authors of BIMs:
Liao, H.-Y., Armstrong, P. I., & Rounds, J. (2008). Development and initial validation of public domain Basic Interest Markers [Monograph]. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 73(1), 159-183.pdf
The Basic Interest Markers (BIMs, Liao et al., 2008) contains 31 scales and 337 items. Below are the BIM scales and items.
Translations This web page serves as a clearing house for those who plan to translate the English BIM items into other languages. If you have translated BIM items, or plan to do so, please contact Dr. Hsin-Ya Liao at [email protected]. Currently, we are aware of the following translated version of BIM items. Please contact these authors for more information.
CHINESE- Simplified (translated by Rong Su at University of Iowa, and Xiaoping Chen at the Capital University of Economics and Business in Beijing, China)
CHINESE- Traditional (translated by Hsin-Ya Liao at Washington State University, and Changya Hu at National Cheng-Chi University in Taiwan)
SPANISH (translated by Julieta Cabrera and Victor Ortuño at the University of the Republic [Universidad de la República or UdelaR] in Uruguay.)
BIM Scales and Items (Also seeBIM Scales and Items and BIM Scale Definitions) Insruction. This inventory (or measure, scale, questionnaire) contains a list of activities to help you explore your vocational interests. Please indicate how much you would like to do each activity using the scales below.
Strongly Dislike Neutral Like Strongly Dislike Like
1 2 3 4 5
1. ATHLETIC COACHING 1. Participate in competitive sports 2. Provide physical fitness training 3. Coach a sports team 4. Explain a sport to other people 5. Referee a sporting event 6. Take a course in athletic training 2. BUSINESS 1. Understand the qualities of an effective business 2. Develop business systems 3. Learn about the needs of the marketplace 4. Think of ideas to increase the sales for a company 5. Implementing quality review procedures in a company 6. Develop strategies for advertising campaigns and sales promotions 7. Set prices on goods based on forecasts of customer demand 8. Plan the expansion of a company 9. Set up an office in a new city 10. Set up business transactions between companies 11. Negotiate a business deal 12. Develop relationship with external suppliers
3. CREATIVE ARTS 1. Sketch a picture 2. Take a film-making course 3. Design a creative work of art 4. Design a piece of artistic furniture 5. Design costumes for a movie or play 6. Participate in an art show 7. Develop a portfolio of artwork 8. Write an original musical piece 9. Visit an art gallery 10. Create a sculpture 11. Study painting
4. CREATIVE WRITING 1. Study creative writing 2. Write a script for a TV drama 3. Write a celebrity biography 4. Write a novel 5. Develop a script for a movie 6. Edit a newspaper article 7. Compose short stories 8. Write a true-life story 9. Write a play for a theater 10. Be on a team of writers for a situational comedy 11. Write children books
5. ENGINEERING 1. Modify an equipment design to reduce sound level 2. Develop more user-friendly machines 3. Redesign an engine to improve fuel efficiency 4. Maintain the main generator in a power plant 5. Test a new cooling system 6. Design electronic systems 7. Improve the efficiency of an assembly process 8. Design structures that can withstand heavy stresses 9. Analyze problems in aircraft design 10. Design a highway overpass 11. Design a diagnostic routine for a power plant
6. FAMILY ACTIVITY 1. Take care of children at home 2. Redecorate the living room 3. Play with your children 4. Maintain the attractiveness of the house 5. Prepare exciting meals for your family 6 .Meet the needs of my partner and children 7. Arrange transportation for your child’s and friend’s play activities 8. Provide a comfortable home for my family 9. Take the family on a picnic 10. Arrange play dates for your child 11. Cook for your friends and family 12. Take the family on a vacation 13. Keep the home looking comfortable 14. Read a story to your child
7. FINANCE 1. Understand economics principles 2. Understand the role of finance in business 3. Work with financial data 4. Create a budget 5. Study how to generate business profits 6. Analyze financial information 7. Project future expenditure 8. Analyze a person’s credit history 9. Provide advice about investments 10. Evaluate the quality of an investment 11. Arrange business loans 12. Learn about money management
8. HUMAN RELATIONS MANAGEMENT 1. Meet with workers to mediate disagreements 2. Explain new company policies to workers 3. Organize a diversity workshop for a company 4. Assess employee opinions of the company 5. Investigate employees?job satisfaction 6. Direct activities to improve office communication 7. Provide human relations training 8. Facilitate relationships between management and employees 9. Review organizational policy matters on equal employment opportunity 10. Organize activities to raise employees' morale 11. Structure an employee disciplinary action
9. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY 1. Design a technology system for distance learning 2. Acquire the latest electronic technology 3. Maintain network hardware and software 4. Maintain a website for an organization 5. Keep up-to-date on the latest software 6. Take a course on network administration 7. Design a computer system for an organization 8. Use computers to archive historical documents 9. Create a computer database 10. Improve computer network efficiency 11. Modify existing software 12. Install a new computer system
10. LAW 1. Research case law 2. Find precedents related to a legal case 3. Obtain a license to practice law 4. Rule on the admissibility of evidence in court 5. Work to improve the legal system 6. Interpret the constitutionality of a law 7. Gather evidence for a trial 8. Present arguments to a jury 9. Prepare legal documents 10. Defend a client against a legal charge (in a courtroom) 11. Arbitrate legal disputes between parties
11. LIFE SCIENCE 1. Learn about the life cycle of an animal species 2. Breed animals in a laboratory 3. Dissect an animal 4. Track the migratory patterns of birds 5. Study the diet of an animal species 6. Investigate human gene structure 7. Identify and classify bacteria 8. Collect plant samples 9. Study how plants grow 10. Conduct research with growing bacteria
12. MANAGEMENT 1. Direct the business affairs of a university 2. Direct all sales activities for a company 3. Plan and coordinate a convention for a professional association 4. Administer city government 5. Plan and direct training and staff development for a business 6. Serve as a president of a university 7. Direct and coordinate the work activities of subordinates 8. Coordinate the activities of all departments in a bank 9. Direct the operations of a medium size company
13. MANUAL LABOR 1. Load and unload freight materials 2. Deliver office furniture 3. Transport people’s belongings from one place to another 4. Drive a nail into wood 5. Clean offices 6. Stack lumber in piles 7. Dig a hole for a fence 8. Clean up trash or debris 9. Feed items into a machine 10. Separate items by weight or size 11. Feed and groom livestock 12. Use hands to lift, carry, and pull objects 13. Use vacuums and shovels to clean working areas
14. MATHEMATICS 1. Solve an algebraic equation 2. Develop mathematical formulas 3. Understand applications of calculus 4. Learn about a new branch of mathematics 5. Graph an equation 6. Take a course in advance mathematics 7. Solve geometric proofs 8. Apply mathematical techniques to practical problems 9. Calculate the probability of winning a contest 10. Use mathematical theorems to solve problems
15. MEDICAL SERVICE 1. Research new drugs to cure cancer 2. Explain how viruses infect the human body 3. Determine the cause of an illness 4. Perform surgery 5. Provide physical therapy 6. Diagnose mental illness 7. Examine a patient in a clinic 8. Provide first aid 9. Prescribe medication to relieve pain 10. Treat injured animals
16. OUTDOOR-AGRICULTURE 1. Protect crops from diseases and pests 2. Feed and water animals in a zoo 3. Raise livestock on a farm 4. Learn about soil and climate requirements of specialty crops 5. Work on a dairy farm 6. Install a crop irrigation system 7. Harvest trees for timber 8. Care for and plant trees 9. Work on a commercial fishing vessel 10. Work in the outdoors
17. OFFICE WORK 1. Perform office work 2. Develop procedures to improve office efficiency 3. Operate commonly-used office machines 4. Improve a system for handling employee reimbursements 5. Order and maintain an inventory of office supplies 6. Provide customer service 7. Design an office filing system 8. Record meeting minutes 9. Schedule, maintain, and update appointments 10. Organize files and documents 11. Prepare payrolls
18. PERFORMING ARTS 1. Study one of the performing arts 2. Participate in a musical performance 3. Act in a television commercial 4. Sing on a stage 5. Perform magic tricks on stage 6. Act in a play 7. Appear in a talent show 8. Direct the performance of actors 9. Conduct an orchestra 10. Take a screen test for a movie 11. Act in a movie
19. PERSONAL SERVICE 1. Wait on tables in a neighborhood restaurant 2. Plan the food and drinks for a business meeting 3. Provide personal services to airplane passengers 4. Serve beverages in a club 5. Provide a client with a manicure 6. Greet guests and answer questions about activities in a hotel 7. Arrange travel plans and accommodations 8. Style hair in a salon 9. Plan parties for weddings and other special occasions 10. Help a client plan an exercise program 11. Help a client plan a vacation to Europe 12. Lead a tour to points of interest in a large city 13. Fit and alter clothes for a customer 14. Work with clients to meet romantic partners
20. PHYSICAL/RISK-TAKING 1. Do work that is dangerous and exciting 2. Discover uncharted territories 3. International travel to countries where there is armed conflict 4. Scuba-dive among unexplored coral reefs 5. Have some adventure during every work day 6. Participate in high-speed chases 7. Parachute jump from an airplane 8. Rescue someone stranded on a mountain 9. Participate in extreme sports
21. PHYSICAL SCIENCE 1. Study the laws of gravity 2. Investigate the molecular structure of substances 3. Search for new solar systems 4. Study the nature of quantum physics 5. Measure the speed of electrons 6. Study the movement of planets 7. Test chemical reactions 8. Study rock and mineral formations 9. Describe the structure of an organic compound 10. Study why earthquakes occur 11. Use meteorological information to predict the weather 12. Take a course in the physical sciences
22. POLITICS 1. Persuade people to vote for your candidate 2. Work in a political campaign 3. Influence voters to support your ideas 4. Debate the merits of political candidates 5. Argue for or against an idea 6. Run for a political office 7. Write legislation 8. Give a speech supporting your candidate
23. Professional Advising 1. Advise people in meeting their professional goals 2. Assist people in planning for retirement 3. Conduct a workshop on time management 4. Coach people to prepare them for an interview 5. Provide consultation for colleagues 6. Apply professional skills in a consulting role 7. Provide skill development training 8. Conduct career planning workshops 9. Assess organizational development needs 10. Recommend changes in how a company operates
24. PROTECTIVE 1. Search for explosives in an airport 2. Make inspections to be sure that laws are not broken 3. Patrol an area to maintain security 4. Direct traffic after an accident 5. Take a person into custody on an arrest warrant 6. Guard a government building 7. Patrol borders to stop illegal immigration 8. Respond to emergency calls for help 9. Conduct surveillance of suspects 10. Escort individuals for their own protection 11. Learn fire-fighting techniques
25. RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES 1. Read a religious text 2. Help children understand religious teachings 3. Provide spiritual guidance 4. Develop my spirituality 5. Train to be a member of a religious ministry 6. Interpret religious writings 7. Conduct religious ceremonies 8. Participate in a prayer group 9. Attend a religious ceremony 10. Explain a religious text to people 11. Pray 12. Take a class about religion
26. SALES 1. Describe features and benefits of a product or service you sell 2. Increase sales in your sales territory 3. Work in a position that offers a commission based on sales 4. Convince people about the usefulness of a new gadget 5. Promote sales of medical equipment to physicians 6. Sell services and equipment 7. Determine customer needs 8. Explain products to customers 9. Persuade customers to spend money 10. Sell commercial property 11. Sell a new product to consumers 12. Learn new sales tactics 13. Be a sales representative for a retail business
27. SKILLED TRADES 1. Install the piping and fixtures of a drainage system 2. Use tools to repair factory equipment 3. Repair the engine of an automobile 4. Construct wooden cabinets 5. Diagnose malfunctions in automotive engines 6. Maintain manufacturing equipment in an industrial plant 7. Install the electrical wiring in a house 8. Replace defective telephone lines 9. Learn how to operate power tools 10. Use building materials to construct a wall 11. Weld together metal components of products
28. SOCIAL SCIENCES 1. Learn about human behavior 2. Develop a theory about human behavior 3. Investigate cultural practices 4. Conduct social science experiments 5. Study child-rearing problems 6. Compare cultural differences among groups 7. Analyze the effects of discrimination on minority groups 8. Review the interpersonal relationship literature 9. Study class structures of a society 10. Study intersections among people in a group
29. SOCIAL SERVICE 1. Assist people with disabilities to find employment 2. Help families to adopt a child 3. Counsel families in crisis 4. Help the homeless find shelter 5. Help people find community resources 6. Provide childcare services 7. Organize a social support group 8. Volunteer for a community service center 9. Help children from disadvantaged background adjust to school 10. Counsel clients with personal problems 11. Provide services to individuals with disabilities 12. Help people overcome social problems
30. TEACHING 1. Develop a lecture 2. Design tests to evaluate students' learning 3. Take a teacher development workshop 4. Create an effective classroom atmosphere 5. Interact with students in a classroom setting 6. Facilitate students' discussions 7. Design an active learning activity 8. Conduct seminars 9. Offer feedback on student papers 10. Supervise high school students' research projects
31. TECHNICAL WRITING 1. Write complex technical information in an understandable way 2. Write instructional manual for a piece of equipment 3. Write directions for how to operate a VCR 4. Plan and edit technical manuals 5. Write a manual on how to operate a cell phone 6. Write instructions on how to assemble a toy 7. Prepare a manual for a computer program 8. Write a user guide on practically anything 9. Create manufacturer's catalogs 10. Write operating documents for an organization
Copyrighted by Dr. James Rounds. Last updated: 09/10/2023