An Investigation of Psychometric Properties of Career Thought Inventory (CTI)

Many people have difficulty making career decisions. Dysfunctional thinking about themselves and their decision-making abilities has been shown to contribute to indecision, anxiety, and depression, which may in turn inhibit career development. Based on cognitive information processing (CIP) approach, evaluation and intervention, the Career Thought Inventory (CTI) (Sampson, Peterson, Lenz, Reardon, & Saunders, 1996/1998) is provided to improve the quality of decision-making. The purpose of this study is to determine the psychometric properties of CTI among the students of Islamic Azad University of Kerman. First, the original form of CTI was translated into Persian and then back into English to understand the questions correctly and compare the translated form to the original one. 520 university students (322 females and 198 males) were selected by multi-stage cluster sampling. Test-retest and Cronbach's alpha coefficient were used to determine the reliability of the test while factor analysis, varimax rotations, content, construct, convergent and criterion validity were used to determine its validity. The Cronbach's alpha coefficient and test-retest methods calculated scale reliability as 0.93, total score as 0.82, DMC as 0.88 and 0.77, CA as 0.77 and 0.71, and EC as 0.59 and 0.65. Significant correlations between each item and the total score indicated internal consistency. Factor analysis of data and Scree plot showed three factors. Correlations among CTI scales and CIP content dimensions confirmed the content validity of the scale. The results showed that CTI and its subscales (DMC, CA, and EC) have acceptable validity and reliability and can be used to determine dysfunctional career thoughts. They also demonstrated that there were significant differences between single and married as well as employed and unemployed students (p<0/01), but no significant difference between female and male students (p>0/05).