This article begins by reviewing the scientific origins of research on career self-efficacy, highlighting its original development as a means of understanding the career development of women and discussing its development through the years into what is now, along with its extension as social cognitive career theory, a widely applicable major…

Measures of self-efficacy and social confidence and a scale of self-efficacy sources were completed by 250 college students. The four sources subscales were internally consistent and related to relevant criterion measures. Three sources of self-efficacy information (past performance, emotional arousal, social persuasion) clustered together…

A test of the Scale of Perceived Social Self-Efficacy with 354 undergraduates supported the instrument's internal consistency and construct and discriminant validity. Social self-efficacy was strongly related to social and enterprising confidence and to shyness, all of which influence career development. (SK)

Discusses issues involved in the measurement of occupational, math, and career decision-making self-efficacy. Addresses the relationship of self-efficacy to vocational interests and to the career development of women and minority groups. (Contains 97 references.) (SK)