Psychometric Properties of the Persian Version of the Perception of Educational and Career-Related Barriers Scale

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Department of Counseling, Faculty of Education and Psychology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran

3 Organisational and Personnel Psychology، Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to develop a Persian version of the Perception of Educational and Career-Related Barriers Scale and examine its psychometric properties, including factor structure, validity, and reliability among students.
 
Method: A sample of 453 undergraduate students from the University of Isfahan (287 females, 166 males) was randomly divided into two groups (n1 = 227, n2 = 226). The factor structure was examined through exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). To assess divergent validity, the Career Path Competencies Questionnaire was utilized. Reliability was evaluated based on internal consistency and stability.
 
Results: EFA identified three factors—career barriers, academic barriers, and environmental barriers. CFA indicated that a single second-order factor structure provided a better fit compared to the three first-order factors in the Iranian student sample. Invariance analysis showed no significant differences between male and female students concerning factor loadings, covariances, and residuals, supporting the model's measurement invariance across gender. The correlation with the Career Path Competencies Questionnaire supported divergent validity. The Cronbach's alpha coefficients were 0.93 for the entire scale and 0.90, 0.90, and 0.88 for the subscales of career barriers, academic barriers, and environmental barriers, respectively.
 
Conclusion: The Persian version of the Perception of Educational and Career-Related Barriers Scale is a valid and reliable tool for research in career guidance and counseling, demonstrating acceptable psychometric properties.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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