Goale’s Scientific Methodology
At GOALE, we combine the strength of traditional vocational psychology with the most advanced technological innovation to offer personalized, reliable, and scientifically grounded university guidance.
Psychometric Foundation:
Holland’s RIASEC Model
Our test is based on the RIASEC model, developed by psychologist John L. Holland (1959) and widely validated in educational and professional settings. This model classifies vocational interests into six dimensions:
R
Realistic
Interest in manual, technical, and mechanical work.
I
Investigative
Inclination toward analytical, scientific, and exploratory thinking.
A
Artistic
Creativity, expression, and aesthetic sensitivity.
S
Social
Vocation for helping, teaching, and interpersonal relationships.
E
Enterprising
Leadership, persuasion, and initiative.
C
Conventional
Organization, structure, and administrative tasks.
Our questionnaire consists of 30 carefully selected items that accurately reflect the six factors of the model, following psychometric design principles (item balance, semantic clarity, and factorial discrimination). The questions have been specifically written for a pre-university audience and validated by a team of experts in educational psychology and career guidance.
Vocational Profiling Algorithm:
AI Applied to Guidance
Once the student completes the test, the result is processed using a proprietary Artificial Intelligence algorithm, developed in Python and trained with tens of thousands of combinations between RIASEC profiles and official degrees.
The system is based on three pillars:
Automatic Interpretation of the RIASEC Profile
The test results are converted into a weighted score vector that reflects the user’s individual preferences, interests, and aptitudes.
From this vector, a unique profile is generated, which is compared structurally with our database of university degrees, allowing the identification of those programs that best match the user’s personal profile.
Enhanced ANECA Degree Database
Our tool not only identifies the vocational profile, but compares it against a structured database of all official degrees recognized in Spain
(source: ANECA and RUCT).
Each degree has been linked to a reference RIASEC profile, defined based on:
- The generic and specific competencies of the study plan.
- The associated career opportunities (consulted from O*NET).
- The academic structure and the typical assessment methods.
Compatibility Calculation: Advanced Matching
Through a probabilistic matching system based on supervised machine learning, the system calculates:
- Degree of affinity between the student’s profile and each degree.
- Probability of academic success and personal satisfaction.
- Similarity graph with related degrees.
This engine enables the system to offer personalized recommendations with affinity metrics, beyond a simple static degree list.
Progressive Enrichment:
Learning from Every Response
Unlike other static tools, GOALE learns and improves over time.
With every new form completed, the system adjusts compatibility weightings.
Aggregated data helps improve model performance, detect new patterns, and optimize guidance.
Additionally, we have an isolated training database with real responses that feeds learning without altering individual results.
Quality, evidence and commitment
to guidance
Our team is made up of counselors, psychologists, engineers, and academics committed to delivering quality guidance.
- The test has been reviewed by experts in psychometrics and university guidance.
- The RIASEC-Degree correspondence tables are built following international standards (O*NET, Holland Codes, NACE).
- The model is fully replicable, audited, and regularly updated.
- We always include a personalized guidance message and offer the possibility of a free session to interpret results and choose a university.
A reliable, rigorous and professional system
GOALE is more than a test: it’s a complete guidance system, based on science and technology, with careful design and an ethical vision of vocational guidance. Its architecture allows for international scalability, adaptability to other higher education systems, and customization for educational centers, academies, or institutions.
Are You a Counselor or Educational Psychologist?
Contact us to get a free demo license, access personalized reports for your students, and collaborate in developing new features for your institution.