A Confirmatory Evaluation of an Educational Orientation Tool for Pre-University Students

Abstract

This study incorporates the design and validation of a questionnaire for the evaluation of Careers Advisory Services and the systematic processes that influence it (family, peer groups, socioeconomic status, etc.). In addition, it examines its psychometric properties within a multicultural population of students attending educational centres in the south of Spain. It seeks to create a valid instrument that is reliable as a measurement tool and useful for evaluating decision making situations relevant to the future working context. A perspective of working life is given through consideration of the degree choices made by those involved in the decision-making process. The metrics used showed high content and construct validity. Structural equation modelling (SEM) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were employed. Indicators described by Wald and Lagrange were used to examine and modify the model in order to obtain a model that best fits relevant theory and goodness of fit criteria.