Testing for the Structure of the Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form Among Chinese College Students

Abstract

This study examines the factor structure of the Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale-Short Form (CDSES-SF) among Chinese college students. Two samples of college students from China were used. The original 25-item CDSES-SF was not supported by the data derived from a sample of 256 Chinese college students (Sample 1). However, a modified 13-item, three-factor model of the CDSES-SF fit the data well: The standardized factor loadings and goodness-of-fit indexes were adequate and the reliability coefficient was .85. This 13-item model was subsequently cross-validated with a second sample of Chinese college students ( N= 157). The cross-validation test revealed that the model was invariant across the two samples. It is suggested that this revised CDSES-SF may be applied to understanding Chinese college students’ career decision-making behavior.