The criterion validity of career adapt–abilities scale with cooperation among Chinese workers

Psychometric characteristics of the career adapt-abilities scale in Thai undergraduate students: a multiple indicators multiple causes model

Objective

This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of the Career Adapt-abilities Scale (CAAS) and analyze the relationships between sociodemographic variables and career adaptability using the MIMIC model with DIF.

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, the CAAS, consisting of four sub-scales-concern, control, curiosity, and confidence-each comprising six items, was administered to 620 undergraduate students from 34 universities in Thailand. Among the participants, women constituted 66.77%, while men accounted for 32.58% (Mean Age = 20.33). To explore the influence of sociodemographic characteristics on specific CAAS item responses, a Multiple-Indicators, Multiple-Causes model with Differential Item Functioning (MIMIC-model with DIF) was employed.

Results

The findings revealed robust internal consistency and reliability in the CAAS. Both the four-factor and second-order factor models exhibited excellent fit indices, emphasizing the significance of each item within the measure. Sociodemographic characteristics did not demonstrate a significant direct effect on the four CAAS subscales, it is worth noting the exception regarding paternal education. Paternal education was found to have a statistical significance impact on two specific CAAS items: "looking for opportunities to grow as a person" and "becoming curious about new opportunities."

Conclusion

These findings underscore the intricate influence of paternal education on specific aspects of career adaptability, suggesting that certain dimensions of career adaptability may be shaped by factors extending beyond the conventional sociodemographic variables examined in this study. Future research could delve deeper into the complex interplay of sociodemographic factors and individual attributes to provide a more holistic perspective on career adaptability in Thailand.

Psychometric assessment of the Grit Scale: Evidence from US and Chinese samples

To further understand the validity and generalizability of grit, this research investigated the psychometric properties of the Grit Scale in both individualistic (i.e., the US) and collectivistic (i.e., the Chinese) populations. Moreover, this research broadened the contributions of grit to vocational outcomes and showed that grit might be essential to success in other life domains beyond the academic context. Specifically, this cross-cultural research reported two studies that examined the conceptualization of grit proposed by Duckworth et al. (2007) and the concurrent validity of grit to vocational outcomes. Study 1 explored the factor structure of grit in a US general sample ( N = 2140) and a US college student sample ( N = 1935). Study 2 examined the factor structure of grit in a Chinese employee sample ( N = 675) and explored its concurrent validity to occupational well-being and proactive work behavior. Results showed that the bifactor model of grit scale fit best in both the US and Chinese samples. The high omega reliabilities indicated that the general grit score and its two subscales (i.e., perseverance of effort and consistency of interests) could be considered reliable. However, the multiple-group CFA measurement invariance test showed that only partial metric invariance for the perseverance of effort factor was verified across the three samples. Perseverance of effort explained more variance in vocational outcomes than the consistency of interests did among Chinese employees. The findings verified the multidimensionality of the Grit Scale and indicated that the relationships between the two facets of grit and vocational outcomes should be separately investigated.

The Five-Factor Career Adapt-Abilities Scale’s Predictive and Incremental Validity With Work-Related and Life Outcomes

Career adaptability, often measured using the Career Adapt-Abilities Scale (CAAS), has been conceptualized as consisting of four factors (Concern, Control, Curiosity, and Confidence). However, recent research has produced evidence in support of the inclusion of a fifth factor, Cooperation. The following pair of studies intends to extend the aforementioned work, to examine how the CAAS-5 predicts a number of work and life-relevant outcomes. Results show that the CAAS-5 is uniquely predictive of a number of outcomes over and above theoretically related constructs in both a sample of students with work experience and working adults. Additionally, using a bifactor model, results suggest that many outcomes are best predicted by a unique subset of the CAAS-5 dimensions. The combination of such results provides evidence for the validity and utility of the CAAS-5 for career interventions, and we therefore suggest that future research on career adaptability explore the five-factor structure further.