Adaptation and validation of self-perceived employability scale: An analysis of sports department students and graduates

Abstract

The purpose of this study was twofold: first, to adapt and test the construct validity of the Self-Perceived Employability Scale; and second, to analyze the employability perceptions of students and graduates of sports departments according to their gender, level of education, ability to communicate in a foreign language, and work experience. A data-collection procedure was conducted two times, and the scale was implemented on two different sample groups. The first implementation of the scale was done for exploratory factor analysis and the second implementation was conducted for confirmatory factor analysis and for the analysis of whether demographic variables (gender, communicating in a foreign language, work experience, and academic status [senior student - new graduate]) caused any difference in participants’ employability perceptions. The Turkish version of Self-Perceived Employability Scale varied from the original version. Items related to individuals’ perceptions about their engagement with studies and academic performance were discarded. A shorter three-factored, structurally valid, and reliable scale emerged after the exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Significant differences were observed in employability perceptions of participants related with their level of education (senior students and new graduates) and work experience in the study field. On the other hand, results indicated that the variables of gender and communicating in a foreign language did not make any difference in participants’ employability perceptions. As a conclusion, the Turkish version of the Self-Perceived Employability Scale has proven its construct validity and utility for the assessment of employability perceptions of Turkish university students. Furthermore, findings revealed that level of education and having work experience in the study field had a significant role in participants’ employability perceptions. Key words: Employability perception, higher education, sports, work experience, foreign language.