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

10.48308/apsy.2024.234877.1620

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to develop a Persian version of the Perception of Academic and Career Barriers Scale, examining 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 (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). To estimate the divergent validity of this tool, the Career Path Competencies Questionnaire was used. Additionally, the reliability of this scale was assessed based on internal consistency and stability. Findings: Results from the EFA indicated three factors—career barriers, academic barriers, and environmental barriers. CFA showed that a single second-order factor structure had a better fit compared to three first-order factors in the Iranian student sample. Invariance analysis revealed no significant differences between male and female students in terms of factor loadings, covariances, and residuals. This supports the model's measurement invariance based on gender. The correlation between this scale and the Career Path Competencies Questionnaire supported the divergent validity. The Cronbach's alpha was estimated at 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 Perception of Academic and Career Barriers Scale is a suitable and effective tool for research purposes in the field of career guidance and counseling, with acceptable psychometric properties.

Keywords

Main Subjects

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Applied Psychology

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Available Online from 22 July 2024

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