The factor structure of the Career Decision Scale: Similarities across selected studies

Abstract

The factor structure of the Career Decision Scale (CDS) was examined by comparing the findings of seven previous factor analytic studies. Inconsistent findings regarding the factor structure of the CDS could generally be accounted for by the diversity of factoring techniques and method for communality estimation and by the fact that all previous studies relied on Varimax (orthogonal) rotational procedures. In comparing coefficients of congruence between previous studies based on Varimax solutions with those based on Promax (oblique) solutions (which were recalculated), it was found that the Promax-based coefficients portrayed less complexity and more similarity in factors across studies. A new factor analytic study of the CDS was conducted ( N = 698) that was designed to avoid the methodological problems of previous studies. Results suggested that a “Simple” model of the CDS factor structure could be derived in which each CDS item loaded saliently on only one factor. Implications of these findings for the demonstration of factorial validity, factorial invariance, and the possible construction of CDS subscales are discussed.