The Dimensionality of the Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale–Short Form Among Chinese Graduate Students

Abstract

The factorial structure of the Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale–Short Form (CDSES-SF) was examined in a sample of 796 Chinese graduate students recruited from five universities in Beijing. A single-factor model is recommended on the basis of two of this study’s findings. First, confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the parsimonious single-factor model fit the data well as the competing multi-factor models did. Second, the original theoretical factors of the CDSES-SF were found to be highly homogeneous and to fail to demonstrate the necessary incremental validity over and beyond the total score. Consistent with the previous studies, the CDSES-SF was found to have sound internal consistency (α = .91). The implications of the current study are discussed.