The factor structure of the Career Decision Scale: Similarities across selected studies

The factor structure of the Career Decision Scale (CDS) was examined by comparing the findings of seven previous factor analytic studies. Inconsistent findings regarding the factor structure of the CDS could generally be accounted for by the diversity of factoring techniques and method for communali...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of vocational behavior 1988-04, Vol.32 (2), p.213-225
Main Authors: Shimizu, Kazuaki, Vondracek, Fred W, Schulenberg, John E, Hostetler, Michelle
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Career Choice
Career Decision Scale
Data Interpretation
Decision Making
Factor Structure
Research Methodology
Research Problems
Secondary Education
Secondary School Students
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Summary:The factor structure of the Career Decision Scale (CDS) was examined by comparing the findings of seven previous factor analytic studies. Inconsistent findings regarding the factor structure of the CDS could generally be accounted for by the diversity of factoring techniques and method for communality estimation and by the fact that all previous studies relied on Varimax (orthogonal) rotational procedures. In comparing coefficients of congruence between previous studies based on Varimax solutions with those based on Promax (oblique) solutions (which were recalculated), it was found that the Promax-based coefficients portrayed less complexity and more similarity in factors across studies. A new factor analytic study of the CDS was conducted ( N = 698) that was designed to avoid the methodological problems of previous studies. Results suggested that a “Simple” model of the CDS factor structure could be derived in which each CDS item loaded saliently on only one factor. Implications of these findings for the demonstration of factorial validity, factorial invariance, and the possible construction of CDS subscales are discussed.
ISSN:0001-8791
1095-9084
DOI:10.1016/0001-8791(88)90015-2