DEVELOPMENT AND VALIDATION OF

CAREER DECISIVENESS SCALE (CDS)

MARITES S. MOYAMS PSYPM

DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY, TAFFCANOSSA ACADEMY, CALAMBA CITY

CAREER CONCERNS

Many factors contribute to the uncertainty and difficulties involved in making career decisions due to the the changing

nature and complexity of the global economy and current vocational marketplace

One of the important methods suggested in past research in order to help the students to increase their knowledge of potential occupations, as well as to enhance their career maturity and self-concept, is by implementing career counseling interventions or programs.

Implications

The development of a scale that would assess the level and extent of career indecision among adolescents would be of great helped in directing career counselling intervention in order for a person acquire the necessary skills needed to progress in their career decision status

PURPOSES

• to assess the level and extent of

career indecision

• to provide a criterion as baseline

information for career counseling

intervention.

Uses

Screening Instrument

Needs Assessment Tool

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE TEST

30 item test

The responses on the inventory are made on a 5 point Likert type scale, as follows: Almost Always True - 5, Frequently True – 4, Occasionally True – 3, Seldom True – 2, Almost Never True – 1

SampleGrade 10 studentsMajority are 16 years old and are female

FRAMEWORK/NOMOLOGICAL NETWORK

INPUT PROCESS OUTPUT

Career Decision Making

Concerns, Feelings, Attitudes

Item Development

Item Validation

Pilot Testing

Factor Analysis

Determine the Reliability and Validity of the

Test

Norms

Prepare the Content of the

Technical Manual

Scale Maximization/ Implementatio

n

Reliable and Valid Scale in

Measuring Career

Decisiveness

Development of Technical

Manual

Screening and Needs

assessment scale for career

counselling interventions

DEFINITION OF THE CONSTRUCTS

Decided/Decisive Individuals

Undecided/ Indecisive Individuals

Those who have already decided on a career, satisfied with his/her choice and feel confident on his/her decision making capacity and are motivated and committed in pursuing career goals

Those who have experience anxiety and negative affectivity in coming up with a plan of action; unsure of his/her career goals and have not made a decision. They may require career counseling to address the problems.

FIRST FACTOR LOADINGFactor - 1 Factor - 2

1. I feel I have enough information about the career I intend to enter. 0.53042 0.022483

2. I have not decided about my future career. 0.02194 0.704025

3. I have a clear understanding of the areas in which I have high skills. 0.43865 0.093736

4. I need more information about different occupations in order to choose wisely. 0.18058 -0.094363

5. I am aware of my most dominant personality traits. 0.52981 0.186086

6. I would like to know more about the career I have chosen. 0.28711 0.297311

8. I have definitely made up my mind on what particular career I would like to pursue. 0.49406 0.272882

9. I am uncertain because I cannot choose between two careers for which I have equal interest. -0.14382 0.540550

10. I have no idea as to what I would like to be in the future. 0.05130 0.712506

11. I have very little interest in any career. 0.03569 0.655977

12. I don’t have any ambition to be anything at all. -0.02685 0.671806

13. I am aware of my strength. 0.63272 0.071563

Factor - 1 Factor - 2

14. I need more information on the best career options for me. 0.15870 -0.186667

15. I am aware of my abilities. 0.62842 0.019210

16. I would like to know how I can best prepare for the career I am considering. 0.27978 0.143746

17. In choosing a career I give more importance on my abilities. 0.58377 0.098633

18. I have no specific career in mind. 0.16272 0.712374

19. I ask the assistance of my guidance counselor regarding my career choice. 0.25828 -0.520053

20. I am exploring the career I would like to pursue through surfing the net. 0.48513 -0.290692

21. I solicit the views of my parents in my choice of career. 0.45182 -0.004819

22. I am being influenced by my peers in choosing career. -0.24285 0.573615

23. I consider the financial status of the family in choosing a career. 0.46882 -0.125024

24. I ask the opinion of those people engaged in the career I intend to enter. 0.70109 -0.022489

25. I don’t have any idea on the career that will be more satisfying to me. 0.05283 0.632064

26. I am unsure of my career goals. 0.10931 0.836339

Factor - 1 Factor - 2

27. I am changing my mind about my career plans. 0.23443 0.814254

28. I think I lack the required personality traits for my career. 0.17576 0.189601

29. I have difficulty planning my career due to changes in economy. 0.04362 0.665935

30. I am unsure of my career alternatives. 0.26093 0.508721

31. I feel that lack of maturity interferes with my career plans. 0.12351 0.648820

32. I lack the necessary information for the career that I want. 0.21193 0.648858

33. I can accurately assess my skills and abilities. 0.51283 -0.089253

34. I persistently worked on my career goals even when I get frustrated. 0.44361 -0.203933

35. I was able to choose a career that would fit my lifestyle. 0.68469 0.110471

36. I certainly know what I value most in a job. 0.63362 -0.059351

37. I can figure out what I can sacrifice to achieve my career goals. 0.72561 -0.161423

38. I know the type of lifestyle I would like to live. 0.65064 0.215253

Factor - 1 Factor - 2

39. I have identified some career alternatives If I will not be able to get my first choice. 0.61427 -0.263963

40. I definitely know my occupational and career strength. 0.74836 -0.016008

41. I am now sure of myself and my decisions. 0.59119 0.108921

42. I am bothered because until now I was not able to make up my mind for the career that I want to pursue. 0.04028 0.649442

43. I am confident in my capacity to make career decisions. 0.75199 0.152686

44. I have a positive outlook on my career decisions. 0.68557 0.221840

45. I asked the assistance of my parents in making career decisions. 0.59585 0.054919

46. I feel satisfied with my career choice. 0.62929 0.206773

47. I have not made up my mind for a specific career choice due to limited information on the different occupational fields. -0.02178 0.596479

48. I have problems coming up with a plan of action regarding career decisions. 0.11191 0.718551

49. In choosing a career, I will follow the footstep of my parents. -0.40864 0.226371

50. I will take a career that would give me more opportunity to develop my abilities. 0.63651 0.115207

Factor - 1 Factor - 2

51. I know I have the ability to choose wise career decisions. 0.70218 0.219684

52. I am confident with my decision making capacity. 0.75699 0.203746

53. I am motivated to pursue my career goals. 0.64150 0.246904

54. I am committed in pursuing my career aspirations. 0.74603 0.079702

FACTOR 1 (28 ITEMS)Factor - 1

1. I feel I have enough information about the career I intend to enter. 0.53042

3. I have a clear understanding of the areas in which I have high skills. 0.43865

5. I am aware of my most dominant personality traits. 0.52981

8. I have definitely made up my mind on what particular career I would like to pursue. 0.49406

13. I am aware of my strength. 0.63272

15. I am aware of my abilities. 0.62842

17. In choosing a career I give more importance on my abilities. 0.58377

20. I am exploring the career I would like to pursue through surfing the net. 0.48513

21. I solicit the views of my parents in my choice of career. 0.45182

23. I consider the financial status of the family in choosing a career. 0.46882

24. I ask the opinion of those people engaged in the career I intend to enter. 0.70109

33. I can accurately assess my skills and abilities. 0.51283

34. I persistently worked on my career goals even when I get frustrated. 0.44361

35. I was able to choose a career that would fit my lifestyle. 0.68469

36. I certainly know what I value most in a job. 0.63362

37. I can figure out what I can sacrifice to achieve my career goals. 0.72561

38. I know the type of lifestyle I would like to live. 0.65064

39. I have identified some career alternatives If I will not be able to get my first choice. 0.61427

40. I definitely know my occupational and career strength. 0.74836

41. I am now sure of myself and my decisions. 0.59119

43. I am confident in my capacity to make career decisions. 0.75199

44. I have a positive outlook on my career decisions. 0.68557

45. I asked the assistance of my parents in making career decisions. 0.59585

46. I feel satisfied with my career choice. 0.62929

51. I know I have the ability to choose wise career decisions. 0.70218

52. I am confident with my decision making capacity. 0.75699

53. I am motivated to pursue my career goals. 0.64150

54. I am committed in pursuing my career aspirations. 0.74603

Factor - 2

2. I have not decided about my future career. 0.704025

9. I am uncertain because I cannot choose between two careers for which I have equal interest. 0.540550

10. I have no idea as to what I would like to be in the future. 0.712506

11. I have very little interest in any career. 0.655977

12. I don’t have any ambition to be anything at all. 0.671806

18. I have no specific career in mind. 0.712374

22. I am being influenced by my peers in choosing career. 0.573615

25. I don’t have any idea on the career that will be more satisfying to me. 0.632064

26. I am unsure of my career goals. 0.836339

27. I am changing my mind about my career plans. 0.814254

29. I have difficulty planning my career due to changes in economy. 0.665935

FACTOR 2 (17 ITEMS)

30. I am unsure of my career alternatives. 0.508721

31. I feel that lack of maturity interferes with my career plans. 0.648820

32. I lack the necessary information for the career that I want. 0.648858

42. I am bothered because until now I was not able to make up my mind for the career that I want to pursue. 0.649442

47. I have not made up my mind for a specific career choice due to limited information on the different occupational fields. 0.596479

48. I have problems coming up with a plan of action regarding career decisions. 0.718551

FACTOR 1FACTOR LOADING

1. I feel I have enough information about the career I intend to enter. 0.558371

8. I have definitely made up my mind on what particular career I would like to pursue. 0.511499

13. I am aware of my strength. 0.645199

15. I am aware of my abilities. 0.612939

24. I ask the opinion of those people engaged in the career I intend to enter. 0.685992

35. I was able to choose a career that would fit my lifestyle. 0.702638

36. I certainly know what I value most in a job. 0.636204

37. I can figure out what I can sacrifice to achieve my career goals. 0.742722

40. I definitely know my occupational and career strength. 0.769577

FACTOR LOADING

41. I am now sure of myself and my decisions. 0.602892

43. I am confident in my capacity to make career decisions. 0.763311

44. I have a positive outlook on my career decisions. 0.690481

46. I feel satisfied with my career choice. 0.673585

51. I know I have the ability to choose wise career decisions. 0.725700

52. I am confident with my decision making capacity. 0.772582

53. I am motivated to pursue my career goals. 0.675741

54. I am committed in pursuing my career aspirations. 0.761000

FACTOR 2FACTOR LOADING

2. I have not decided about my future career. 0.691704

9. I am uncertain because I cannot choose between two careers for which I have equal interest. 0.587533

10. I have no idea as to what I would like to be in the future. 0.686455

18. I have no specific career in mind. 0.668322

22. I am being influenced by my peers in choosing career. 0.535834

25. I don’t have any idea on the career that will be more satisfying to me. 0.640065

26. I am unsure of my career goals. 0.861971

27. I am changing my mind about my career plans. 0.833138

FACTOR LOADING

30. I am unsure of my career alternatives. 0.571241

31. I feel that lack of maturity interferes with my career plans. 0.677650

32. I lack the necessary information for the career that I want. 0.680066

42. I am bothered because until now I was not able to make up my mind for the career that I want to pursue. 0.689648

48. I have problems coming up with a plan of action regarding career decisions. 0.764086

Note: Factor Loadings below .40 have been omitted.

PSYCHOMETRIC PROPERTY

VALIDITY

Content validity was established through concurrence of five experts in the field (2 guidance counselors, 2 professors, and 1 researcher)

Selection of items was done through statistical analyses which contributed to construct validity of the test which in turned assure the structural validity of the scale.

Content Validity

A principal component analysis with varimax rotation was used to extract the factor structure of the instrument. A two factor model was confirmed with the Career Decisiveness Scale.

Construct Validity

Criterion Validity is concerned with the extent to which the Career Decisiveness Scale (CDS) accurately discriminates between persons who are decided in the course and those are still undecided. Evidence of predictive validity was established by analyzing the differences in CDS Total score for each group. The Decided group showed significantly higher mean scores on the CDS Total Score (M = 109.29, SD = 10.92) than the undecided group (M= 80.93, SD = 9.54), t (-7.32 = 1.31, p = 0.000000).

CRITERION VALIDITY

RELIABILITY

The internal consistency (alpha) coefficients for the Career Decisiveness Scale (CDS) Total score was .92. Alpha coefficients for factors 1 and 2 are .93 and .91 respectively.

INTERNAL CONSISTENCY

FURTHER RESEARCH

Overall reliability of the instrument yielded a high reliability coefficient, however it is the dream of the developer to conduct a test-retest to establish the

scales stability.

A similar measure will also be administered to determine the extent to which CDS Total Score

correlate with other measures of similar constructs in a theoretically consistent direction.

To investigate further the development of the instrument, the scale will be administered to a

large number og participants and other year levels to extend the test usability.

SAMPLE ITEMS

DIRECTIONS: This questionnaire contains statements about your feelings/attitude towards career decision making. Next to each statement, circle the number that represents how you feel about the statement using the following scoring system:

Almost Always True - 5Frequently True - 4Occasionally True - 3Seldom True - 2Almost Never True - 1

 Be honest about your responses as there is no right or wrong

answers. Base your answer on your actual experience, not on how you would like to be seen. There is no time limit but work quickly and make sure that each statement is carefully read and answered.

1. I feel I have enough information about the career I intend to enter.

2. I have not decided about my future career.

3. I have definitely made up my mind on what particular career I would like to pursue.

4. I am uncertain because I cannot choose between two careers for which I have equal interest.

5. I have no idea as to what I would like to be in the future.

6. I am aware of my strength.