On Conceptualizing and Assessing Social Cognitive Constructs in Career Research: A Measurement Guide

Efforts to test hypotheses derived from social cognitive theory require sound measures of the theory’s constructs. Because the theory is concerned with domain-specific aspects of human functioning, it raises special measurement challenges. For example, unlike traits, which can be indexed with general, all-purpose measures, social cognitive research calls for measures that are tailored to the specific domain and dependent variables of interest. To facilitate social cognitive research on career development, a guide is provided for conceptualizing and assessing the core constructs of social cognitive career theory: self-efficacy, outcome expectations, interests, goals, and contextual supports and barriers. The basic constructs and their common variants are defined and distinguished, unique measurement concerns are considered, and examples and suggestions are offered for measurement design and adaptation.

[1]  K. Bieschke,et al.  Applying social cognitive theory to interest in research among counseling psychology doctoral students: A path analysis. , 1998 .

[2]  V. Vroom.  Work and motivation , 1964 .

[3]  S. Gully,et al.  Role of goal orientation, ability, need for achievement, and locus of control in the self-efficacy and goal--setting process. , 1997 .

[4]  A. Bandura.  Self-Efficacy: The Exercise of Control , 1997, Journal of Cognitive Psychotherapy.

[5]  Frederick G. Lopez,et al.  Latent Structure of the Sources of Mathematics Self-Efficacy , 1996, Journal of vocational behavior.

[6]  Mary Ann Hoffman,et al.  Development and Validation of the Counselor Activity Self-Efficacy Scales , 2003 .

[7]  Laura Nota,et al.  Testing Social Cognitive Interest and Choice Hypotheses across Holland Types in Italian High School Students. , 2003 .

[8]  Nancy E. Betz,et al.  Evaluation of a Short Form of the Career Decision-Making Self-Efficacy Scale , 1996 .

[9]  Karen M. O’Brien.  Measuring career self-efficacy: Promoting confidence and happiness at work. , 2003 .

[10]  Robert W. Lent,et al.  The role of contextual supports and barriers in the choice of math/science educational options: A test of social cognitive hypotheses , 2001 .

[11]  J. Swanson,et al.  Advances in vocational psychology theory and research. , 2000 .

[12]  Steven D. Brown,et al.  Self-efficacy in the prediction of academic performance and perceived career options. , 1986 .

[13]  Wade C. Leuwerke,et al.  Predicting Occupational Considerations: A Comparison of Self-Efficacy Beliefs, Outcome Expectations, and Person-Environment Congruence , 2000 .

[14]  Steven D. Brown,et al.  Toward a Unifying Social Cognitive Theory of Career and Academic Interest, Choice, and Performance , 1994 .

[15]  I. Janis,et al.  Decision Making: A Psychological Analysis of Conflict, Choice, and Commitment , 1977 .

[16]  K. Bieschke.  Factor Structure of the Research Outcome Expectations Scale , 2000 .

[17]  B. Hesketh,et al.  Counseling for Work Adjustment. , 2004 .

[18]  Frederick G. Lopez,et al.  Predicting mathematics-related choice and success behaviors: Test of an expanded social cognitive model , 1993 .

[19]  Alexander D. Stajkovic,et al.  Self-efficacy and work-related performance: A meta-analysis. , 1998 .

[20]  John P. Wanous,et al.  Expectancy theory and occupational/organizational choices: A review and test , 1983 .

[21]  Henry L. Tosi.  A Theory of Goal Setting and Task Performance , 1991 .

[22]  J. Daniels,et al.  Review of the Counseling Self-Efficacy Literature , 1998 .

[23]  V. S. Solberg,et al.  Assessing Career Search Expectations: Development and Validation of the Career Search Efficacy Scale , 1994 .

[24]  A. Bandura.  Social Foundations of Thought and Action: A Social Cognitive Theory , 1985 .

[25]  Robert W. Lent,et al.  Contextual supports and barriers to career choice: A social cognitive analysis. , 2000 .

[26]  Frank M. Pajares,et al.  Mathematics self-efficacy and mathematics performances: The need for specificity of assessment. , 1995 .

[27]  Linda C. Schmidt,et al.  Social Cognitive Predictors of Academic Interests and Goals in Engineering: Utility for Women and Students at Historically Black Universities. , 2005 .

[28]  Steven D. Brown,et al.  Self-Rated Abilities and Self-Efficacy Beliefs: Are They Empirically Distinct? , 2000 .

[29]  Robert W. Lent,et al.  A Social Cognitive Framework for Career Choice Counseling , 1996 .

[30]  C. R. Snyder,et al.  Positive Psychological Assessment: A Handbook of Models and Measures , 2003 .

[31]  A. Bandura.  GUIDE FOR CONSTRUCTING SELF-EFFICACY SCALES , 2006 .

[32]  Robert W. Lent,et al.  Relation of Contextual Supports and Barriers to Choice Behavior in Engineering Majors: Test of Alternative Social Cognitive Models. , 2003 .

[33]  Nancy E. Betz,et al.  The Relationship of Career-Related Self-Efficacy Expectations to Perceived Career Options in College Women and Men. , 1981 .

[34]  Nancy E. Betz,et al.  Gender, Ethnicity, and Social Cognitive Factors Predicting the Academic Achievement of Students in Engineering. , 1992 .

[35]  Paul A. Gore,et al.  Discriminant and Predictive Validity of Academic Self-Concept, Academic Self-Efficacy, and Mathematics-Specific Self-Efficacy. , 1997 .

[36]  Nadya A. Fouad,et al.  A test of a social cognitive model for middle school students: Math and science. , 1996 .

[37]  E. A. Locke,et al.  The Relation of Self-Efficacy and Grade Goals to Academic Performance , 1987 .

[38]  Nancy E. Betz,et al.  The relationship of mathematics self-efficacy expectations to the selection of science-based college majors , 1983 .

[39]  Shaughnessy,et al.  Efficacy Expectations and Vocational Interests as Mediators between Sex and Choice of Math/Science College Majors: A Longitudinal Study , 1996, Journal of vocational behavior.

[40]  J. L. Holland,et al.  Making vocational choices : a theory of vocational personalities and work environments , 1984 .

[41]  Robert W. Lent,et al.  A Social Cognitive View of Career Development and Counseling. , 2005 .

[42]  Robert W. Lent,et al.  Career self-efficacy: Empirical status and future directions , 1987 .

[43]  Lisa Y. Flores,et al.  The Career Counseling Self-Efficiency Scale: Instrument development and training applications. , 1997 .

[44]  Nancy E. Betz,et al.  Applications of self-efficacy theory to the understanding and treatment of career indecision , 1983 .

[45]  R. Lent.  Toward a Unifying Theoretical and Practical Perspective on Well-Being and Psychosocial Adjustment. , 2004 .

[46]  Nancy E. Betz,et al.  Utility of Expectancy Theory in Predicting Occupational Choices in College Students. , 1990 .

[47]  Lisa M. Larson,et al.  The Relation of Self-Efficacy and Interests: A Meta-Analysis of 60 Samples. , 2003 .

[48]  G. Hackett,et al.  Task self-efficacy and task interest as a function of performance on a gender-neutral task , 1987 .

[49]  Nancy E. Betz,et al.  A self-efficacy approach to the career development of women , 1981 .

[50]  Robert W. Lent,et al.  Relation of self-efficacy expectations to academic achievement and persistence. , 1984 .

[51]  N. Betz,et al.  The relationships of self-efficacy for the Holland themes to gender, occupational group membership, and vocational interests. , 1996 .

[52]  Robert W. Lent,et al.  Handbook of Counseling Psychology , 1984 .

[53]  Martin G. Evans,et al.  The problem of analyzing multiplicative composites: Interactions revisited. , 1991 .

[54]  Nancy E. Betz,et al.  Self-Efficacy Theory as a Basis for Career Assessment , 2000 .

[55]  I. Ajzen.  Attitudes, Personality and Behavior , 1988 .

[56]  Nancy E. Betz,et al.  Sources of Social Self-Efficacy Expectations: Their Measurement and Relation to Career Development , 2001 .

[57]  Robert W. Lent,et al.  Career choice barriers, supports, and coping strategies: College students' experiences. , 2002 .

[58]  R. Lent,et al.  Development and initial validation of the Multicultural Counseling Self-Efficacy Scale--Racial Diversity Form. , 2007, Psychotherapy.

[59]  Nadya A. Fouad,et al.  Subject-matter specificity of self-efficacy, outcome expectancies, interests, and goals: Implications for the social–cognitive model. , 1999 .

[60]  W. Walsh,et al.  The Assessment of interests , 1986 .

[61]  Frank Pajares,et al.  SELF-EFFICACY BELIEFS, MOTIVATION, AND ACHIEVEMENT IN WRITING: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE , 2003 .