ERIC Number: EJ797741
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2007
Pages: 12
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1038-4162
EISSN: N/A
Development of a Brief Measure of Career Development Influences Based on the Systems Theory Framework
Bridgstock, Ruth
Australian Journal of Career Development, v16 n3 p19-30 Spr 2007
This paper documents the initial development and validation of a brief quantitative measure of career development influences based on the Systems Theory Framework (STF) of career development (McMahon & Patton, 1995; Patton & McMahon, 1997, 1999, 2006). Initial exploratory factor analyses of pilot study data revealed a six-factor structure based on 20 of the 28 influences. A subsequent confirmatory factor analysis procedure using structural equation model (SEM) revealed a fundamentally stable factor structure across the two different populations tested, although some further modifications were made to the scale. The final 19-item scale identified five correlated factors, of which three were within the framework's individual system, one was within the social system, and one was within the environmental-societal system. In the final section of the paper, the theoretical implications of this factorial structure and the importance of the influence of world of work knowledge factor are addressed. The utility of the career development influences scale as a brief measure to contextualise more targeted measures in large-scale quantitative career development studies is discussed. (Contains 2 figures and 6 tables.)
Descriptors: Social Systems, Systems Approach, Career Development, Measures (Individuals), Factor Analysis, Factor Structure, Structural Equation Models, Qualitative Research
Australian Council for Educational Research. 19 Prospect Hill Road, Camberwell, VIC, Australia 3124. Tel: +61 3 9277 5447; e-mail: sales@acer.edu.au; Website: http://www.acer.edu.au
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A