Development and Validation of the Career Adaptability Scale for Undergraduates in Korea

This study explores factors of career adaptability and develops a measurement scale for undergraduates in Korea. The scale measuring the undergraduates’ career adaptability consists of nine factors across three areas, as follows: knowledge and recognition for the self and work environment (self-understanding to establish identity, search for work environment, positive career beliefs), self-directed coping related to career behavior (coping with career-choice crisis, career preparation behavior, ability to coordinate career goals), environmental interactions for career decision and adaptation (ability to cope with environmental stress, social responsibility, ability to utilize social resources). First, an item analysis using the Rasch model was conducted, and measurement values of the items were compared. Second, an exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis, applying the structural equation model, were performed. Third, Cronbach’s alpha was calculated to establish the reliability of the scale. The Rasch model fit analysis, to measure validity, revealed that 44 items were valid. The aforementioned model, consisting of nine factors across three areas, was shown to be suitable by the confirmatory factor analysis. The results of this study help in the development of career education programs by clarifying factors of career adaptability and providing information about differences based on the factors.