Psychometric Validity and Standardization of a Vocational and Educational Guidance Scale Based on the CPI

Nooraldin  Mirzaei; Mohammad Saeed Ahmadi; Hajar  Tarverdizadeh

doi:10.61838/e7wtpq25

Authors

Nooraldin Mirzaei PhD Candidate, Department of Educational Psychology, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0009-0004-8322-0881
Mohammad Saeed Ahmadi Assistant Professor, Department of Psychology and Counseling, Farhangian University, Tehran, Iran https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5351-9610
Hajar Tarverdizadeh Department of Educational Psychology, CT.C., Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Author https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3909-0536

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.61838/e7wtpq25

Keywords:

California Psychological Inventory, Content validity, Cronbach’s alpha, Educational, vocational guidance, Norming, Psychometrics, Reliability

Abstract

Purpose: The present study aimed to develop, examine the validity and reliability, and conduct a preliminary norming of an educational-vocational guidance questionnaire based on the California Psychological Inventory (CPI). The instrument was designed to assess personality, motivational, identity-related, value-based, social, and adjustment characteristics relevant to educational and career decision-making.

Methods and Materials: This applied study employed a descriptive-correlational psychometric design. First, 480 CPI items were reviewed; after extraction, refinement, and expert classification, 201 items were retained and organized into 12 subscales. The study population consisted of faculty members in psychology, counseling, and educational sciences, as well as counselors and specialists in the education sector, from which 700 participants were selected through random sampling. For content validity assessment, the opinions of 120 experts were collected, and the Content Validity Ratio (CVR) and Content Validity Index (CVI) were calculated. Internal consistency was evaluated using Cronbach’s alpha.

Findings: The findings indicated that the questionnaire was structured into 12 subscales: Extraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Neuroticism, Openness to Experience, Motivation and Self-Concept, Psychopathology and Maladaptive Behaviors, Values and Socio-Moral Orientations, Coping and Defensive Styles, Identity and Independence, Introversion, and Courage and Risk-Taking. The total CVR and CVI were 0.8918 and 0.9033, respectively. The overall Cronbach’s alpha was 0.9033, and the alpha coefficients of the subscales ranged from 0.837 to 0.897, indicating satisfactory internal consistency.

Conclusion: The results suggest that the CPI-based educational-vocational guidance questionnaire possesses acceptable content validity and high reliability and can be used as a valid instrument in educational and vocational counseling. Since full normative data were not reported in the available text, the norming aspect of the study should be considered preliminary and requires further investigation.

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