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Validation of the College Planning Behaviors Scale
Katherine D Cook1, Erin E Hardin1, Melinda M Gibbons1
1University of Tennessee Knoxville, Knoxville, TN, USA.
Professional School Counseling
|June 27, 2022
Summary
This study developed a reliable measure for college planning behaviors, finding it linked to barriers, self-efficacy, and outcome expectations. This tool aids in understanding diverse student college preparation steps.
Area of Science:
- Educational Psychology
- Sociology of Education
- Career Development
Background:
- College preparation is crucial for high school students' educational attainment.
- Existing research often emphasizes the importance and timing of college planning, but less on the specific actions students take.
- The Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) provides a framework for understanding career-related choices and behaviors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a measure assessing college choice actions (behaviors) among diverse high school student groups.
- To provide a tool for researchers and educators to better understand the practical steps students undertake in college preparation.
- To evaluate the reliability and validity of this new measure within a student population.
Main Methods:
- Utilized the Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) framework.
- Developed a novel measure to assess college choice actions.
- Administered the measure to a diverse group of high school students.
- Conducted reliability and validity analyses (internal consistency, construct validity).
Main Results:
- The developed measure demonstrated good reliability and validity in the studied population.
- The measure showed strong internal consistency and construct validity.
- Findings supported the linkage between college-planning behaviors and identified barriers, college-going self-efficacy, and college outcome expectations (COE).
Conclusions:
- The validated measure is a useful tool for assessing college-planning behaviors in diverse student groups.
- College preparation actions are significantly influenced by perceived barriers, self-efficacy beliefs, and expectations of future outcomes.
- This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the practical aspects of college planning through the lens of SCCT.
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