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The validity of a German version of the career exploration survey

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Abstract

This paper reports psychometric properties of a German version of the Career Exploration Survey (CES-G). The instrument’s 16 scales allow for a detailed description of career exploration. Based on data from two studies (N 1 = 1023; N 2 = 816), confirmatory factor analyses supported the 16-factor model. With regard to construct validity, several CES-G scales were related to subsequent job involvement. Several demographic characteristics (e.g., age, gender, chronological distance to final school exams) were found to be related to career exploration. The results suggest that the CES-G is a valid and interesting clinical and research tool for assessing career exploration.

Résumé.

La validité d’une version allemande du Career Exploration Survey. Cet article présente les propriétés psychométriques d’une version allemande du Career Exploration Survey (CES-G). Les 16 échelles de l’instrument prennent en compte la description détaillée de l’exploration du parcours professionnel. Basées sur des données issues de deux études (N1 = 1023; N2 = 816), les analyses factorielles confirmatoires soutiennent le modèle à 16 facteurs. En ce qui concerne la validité de construit, plusieurs échelles du CES-G ont été mises en relation avec l’engagement ultérieur dans une situation de travail. Plusieurs caractéristiques démographiques (par exemple, l’âge, le genre, la distance chronologique par rapport aux examens scolaires finaux) se sont avérées liées à l’exploration du parcours professionnel. Les résultats suggèrent que le CES-G est un outil clinique et de recherche valide et intéressant pour évaluer l’exploration du parcours professionnel.

Zusammenfassung.

Die Validität einer deutschen Version des Career Exploration Survey (CES-G; Berufswahl-Fragebogen). Dieser Artikel stellt die psychometrischen Eigenschaften einer deutschen Version des Career Exploration Survey (CES-G; Berufswahl-Fragebogen) vor. Die 16 Skalen dieses Instruments ermöglichen eine detaillierte Beschreibung des Berufsentscheidungsprozesses. Auf der Grundlage von zwei Untersuchungen (N1 = 1023; N2 = 816) bestätigt eine überprüfende Faktorenanalyse das 16-Faktoren-Modell. Mit Blick auf die Validität des Modells wurden einige der CES-G-Skalen in Bezug zu späteren Berufseinmündungen gesetzt. Für einige demografische Merkmale (z.B. Alter, Geschlecht, zeitlicher Abstand zum schließlich höchsten erreichten Schulabschluss) wurde ein Zusammenhang mit dem Berufsentscheidungsprozess festgestellt. Die Ergebnisse lassen den CES-G als ein valides und interessantes klinisches und Forschungsinstrument erscheinen.

Resumen.

Validez de una Versión Alemana del Cuestionario de Exploración de la Carrera. En este artículo se presentan las características psicométricas de una versión alemana del Cuestionario de Exploración de la Carrera (CES-G). Las 16 escalas del instrumento permiten realizar una descripción detallada de la exploración de la carrera. Basándose en los datos de dos estudios (N1 = 1023; N2 = 816), los análisis factoriales exploratorios confirmaron el modelo de 16 factores. Con respecto a la validez de constructo, varias escalas del CES-G estaban relacionadas con la implicación posterior en el trabajo. También se encontró que diversas características demográficas (tales como edad, género, distancia cronológica a los exámenes finales) estaban relacionadas con la exploración de la carrera. Los resultados sugieren que el CES-G es un instrumento útil, tanto en la práctica como en la investigación, para evaluar la exploración de la carrera.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Daniela Kitzler, Birgit Blachnik and Carolin Schäfer for assistance in data collection. The constructive feedback provided by Verena Hehn, Kathrin Staufenbiel, Christina Wohlers, and Mareike Pfennig on earlier drafts of this paper is greatly appreciated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre for Continuing Education, TU Dortmund University, Hohe Strasse 141, 44139, Dortmund, Germany

    Jens Rowold

  2. Universitaet Muenster, Muenster, Germany

    Kathrin Staufenbiel

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  1. Jens Rowold
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  2. Kathrin Staufenbiel
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Correspondence to Jens Rowold.

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Rowold, J., Staufenbiel, K. The validity of a German version of the career exploration survey. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 10, 21–34 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-009-9169-9

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