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Validating a measure of stages of change in career development

  • Marie S. Hammond
  • Tony Michael
  • Charles Luke
Article
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Abstract

Research on the processes of change in career development has focused on developmental stages rather than processes. This manuscript reports on the development and validation of the stages of change—career development scale, adapted from McConnaughy, Prochaska, & Velicer (1983) measure of stages of change in psychotherapy. Data from 875 postsecondary students were analyzed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, resulting in a 15-item measure with five factors. Convergent and divergent validity was demonstrated, suggesting that this scale has the potential to explicate the process of change in ways that will be useful to research and practice.

Keywords

Career development Change process Stages of change 

Résumé

Validation d’une mesure des stades de changements en développement de carrière. La littérature concernant les processus de changement dans le développement de carrière s’est principalement focalisée sur les stades développementaux plutôt que sur les processus impliqués dans ceux-ci. Le sujet de ce manuscrit est le développement et la validation de l’échelle des stades de changement du développement de carrière, adaptée de la mesure des stades de changement en psychothérapie de McConnaughy, Prochaska, et Velicer (1983). Les réponses de 875 étudiants en formation supérieure ont été analysées avec une analyse factorielle exploratoire et confirmatoire résultant en une mesure de 15 items en 5 facteurs. La validité convergente et divergente a été démontrée, suggérant que cette échelle a le potentiel d’expliquer le processus de changement de manière utile pour la recherche et la pratique.

Zusammenfassung

Validierung einer Skala von Veränderungsstufen in der Karriereentwicklung. Die Forschung über die Veränderungsprozesse in der beruflichen Entwicklung konzentrierten sich bislang eher auf Entwicklungsstufen als auf Prozesse. Dieses Manuskript berichtet über die Entwicklung und Validierung der Veränderungsstufen - Karriereentwicklung Skala, adaptiert von Skala für Veränderungen in der Psychotherapie nach McConnaughy, Prochaska und Velicer (1983). Daten aus 875 postsekundären Studenten wurden mit Hilfe der explorativen und konfirmatorischen Faktoranalyse analysiert, was zu einer 15-Item Skala mit fünf Faktoren führte. Konvergente und divergierende Validität wurde bestätigt, was darauf hindeutet, dass diese Skala das Potenzial hat, den Prozess des Wandels in einer Weise zu erklären, die für Forschung und Praxis nützlich ist.

Resumen

Validadando una Medida de fases de cambio en el Desarrollo Profesional. La investigación en los procesos de cambio del desarrollo profesional se ha centrado en el desarrollo de fases en lugar que procesos. Este artículo informa sobre el desarrollo y validación de las Fases de Cambio - escala del Desarrollo Profesional, adaptando la medida de psicoterapia de Mc Connaughy, Prochaska y Velicer (1983). Datos de 875 estudiantes de Bachillerato fueron analizados usando anàlisis factorial exploratorio y confirmado, resultando una medida de 15 items con cinco factores. La validación convergente y divergente fue demostrada, sugiriendo que esta escala tiene potencial para explicar el proceso de cambio en la medida que será útil para futuras investigaciones y prácticas.

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Copyright information

© Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of PsychologyTennessee State UniversityNashvilleUSA
  2. 2.Department of Counseling and PsychologyTennessee Technological UniversityCookevilleUSA

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