The reliability and factor structure of the career decision self-efficacy Scale-SF with African Americans

The present study, based on a sample of 220 African American college students, sought to examine the utility of the Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale (CDSE) for African Americans. Values of coefficient alpha indicated reliability similar to that found in predominantly White samples. A four-factor structure best represented the data, with a large first factor emphasizing information gathering and decision making. However, the factor structure could also be interpreted relative to time orientation, from most immediate tasks ("choose a major") to those further away temporally ("choosing a career," "interviewing for a job," and "changing jobs if needed"). The students studied herein reported higher levels of career decision self-efficacy than found in previous samples, but cautions in interpreting this finding are suggested. Overall, more research on both measuring career decision self-efficacy and providing career decision interventions within African American samples is recommended.