Psychometric Properties of the Job Search Self-Efficacy Scale

1. Psychometric Properties of the Job Search Self-Efficacy Scale Investigators: Jeff Christianson Cody Foster Jon Ingram Dan Neighbors Faculty Mentor: Dr. Susan Lonborg

2. Purpose • To investigate the psychometric properties (I.e., reliability, validity) of a new measure of job search self-efficacy • Self-efficacy expectations: individuals’ beliefs about their abilities to “organize and execute courses of action required to attain designed types of performance” (Bandura, 1986, p. 391)

4. Social Cognitive Career Theory • SCCT (Lent, Brown, & Hackett, 1996) is a leading theory of career development today • Three central variables: • Self-efficacy expectations (“Can I do this?”) • Outcome expectations (“What will happen if…?”) • Personal goals

5. Social Cognitive Career Theory • SCCT recognized for its attention to contextual variables (e.g., gender, ethnicity) and career-related cognitions that shape career choices and behavior • Numerous instruments for assessing career-related self-efficacy, including: • Occupational Self Efficacy Scale • Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale • No published instrument, to date, measuring job search self-efficacy

6. Job Search Self-Efficacy • Job Search Self-Efficacy Scale (JSSES; Kessler & Lonborg) developed for use in career services with unemployed workers • To date, no data on the psychometric properties of the JSSES • JSSES has potential to be useful in assessing college students’ self-efficacy regarding the job search process

7. Research Goals • Study 1: Develop a measure of job search experience • Study 2: Examine the reliability and validity of the Job Search Self-Efficacy Scale (JSSES) by examining: • Internal consistency reliability • Concurrent validity (e.g., comparing JSSES scores to those on other established career self-efficacy scales)

8. Study 1 Procedures • Job Search Experience Questionnaire (JSEQ, Christianson, Ingram, Lonborg & Foster, 2006) developed and pilot tested during Winter 2007 • The JSEQ is an 24-item questionnaire designed to obtain information about previous job search experiences; for example: • “Have you ever posted your resume online? • After participants completed the JSEQ, investigators solicited suggestions for revisions in the instrument

9. Study 2 Procedures • In Spring 2007, we began investigating the psychometric properties (e.g., reliability, validity) of the Job Search Self-Efficacy Scale (JSSES; Kessler & Lonborg, 1994). • Job search self-efficacy defined as confidence in one’s ability to complete specific tasks related to the job search process • Because the job search process is an essential component of the development of young adults, the initial population for study was college students.

10. Study 2 Procedure • Design: Correlational research • Participants: 80 undergraduate students recruited through the Psychology Department research participation bulletin board • 21 males, 58 females, 1 unknown • Mean age: 23.01 years • 56.3% Caucasian, 8.8% Asian/PI, 5% Hispanic, 22% unknown • 12.5% FR, 13.8% SO, 30.0% JR, 37.5% SR

11. Study 2 Procedures • Study instruments were administered to small groups of participants • Completion of study-related measures required 30-40 minutes of participants’ time • The SE instruments were counterbalanced to control for possible order effects

12. Research Measures • Participants were asked to read an informed consent form and complete the following instruments: (a) The Job Search Self-Efficacy Scale (b) The Occupational Self Efficacy Scale (OSES; Osipow, Temple, & Rooney) (c) The Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale (CDMSE; Betz & Taylor, 2001) (d) The Career Decision Scale (CDS; Osipow) (e) The Job Search Experience Questionnaire

13. Study 2 Procedures • Participants were asked to refrain from placing their names on instruments to ensure the anonymity of the data • Upon completion of study procedures, participants were given written post-study information and documentation of their participation in a psychology research study

14. Results • Internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha) • Career Decision SE .90 • Job Search Self Efficacy .97 • Occupational Self Efficacy .93 • Career Decision Scale .86 • Job Search Experience .69

15. Results • Concurrent Validity • Job Search SE / Career Decision SE .68** • Job Search SE / Occupational SE .40** • Other Correlations • Job Search SE / Job Search Exp .26* • Job Search SE / Career Certainty .24* • Job Search SE / Career Indecision -.23* *p<.05 **p<.001

16. Discussion • Moderate, positive, and statistically significant correlations with other established SE measures provide support for the concurrent validity of the JSES • Cronbach alpha of .97 provides evidence for the internal consistency (reliability) of the JSES

17. Discussion • Methodological Limitations • Small sample size • Need to replicate study with more diverse populations of adults • Job Search Experience Questionnaire is new instrument; currently lacks psychometric data • Methodological Strengths • College students represent an important population for study of job search SE • Counterbalancing order of presentation of SE measures • Use of well-established measures of career-related SE

18. Discussion • Suggestions for future research • Factor analysis of the JSSES • Data collection at Career Center and at other universities • Data collection with other populations of adult workers • Examine possible gender differences in job search self efficacy, given previously observed gender differences in career self-efficacy