This study examined the test-retest reliability and the concurrent validity of the 17-scale Expanded Skills Confidence Inventory in samples of 321 and 175 college students. Retest values over a 3-week interval ranged from .77 to .89, with a median of .85. Using Brown and Gore's C-index, evidence for the concurrent validity of confidence score…

Examined student (N=188) responses to measures of Expectancy and Valence to six male- and six female-dominated careers. Found that Expectancy X Valence interaction for occupation accounted for variance in choosing occupation; gender differences were marked and consistent across expectancy, valence, and likelihood of choosing occupation, varying…

Investigated the relationship of mathematics self-efficacy expectations to the selection of science-based major in 261 college students. Results indicated that mathematics self-efficacy expectations were significantly related to students' selection of science-based college majors. The math-related self-efficacy expectations of males were…

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)

Compared college women's scores for criterion-related validity and sex balance on the Strong Campbell Interest Inventory and UNIACT. On both inventories, scores on Enterprising, Conventional, Artistic and Social themes were most consistent with occupational choices. Subjects choosing Investigative and Realistic occupational areas obtained…

Results indicated that both husbands and wives reported relatively high levels of marital adjustment, relatively profeminist attitudes toward women, and moderate levels of career salience. Both husbands and wives ranked family as first and career as second in importance. Women reported more profeminist attitudes than men. (Author)

Examines the extent to which career decision-making efficacy and outcome expectations relate to career indecision and exploration intentions. Results, based on a multiple regression model and 350 participants, indicate that self-efficacy beliefs are the best predictor of career indecision, whereas outcome expectations are the best predictor of…

Subjects, (N=134) female and (N=101) male undergraduates, were asked to indicate their perceptions of their capabilities to successfully complete the educational requirements and job duties of each of 10 traditionally female and 10 traditionally male occupations. Results indicated sex differences in self-efficacy with regard to traditional versus…

The extent to which Basic Confidence Scales predicted career decision-making self-efficacy was studied in a sample of 627 undergraduate students. Six confidence variables accounted for 49% of the variance in career decision-making self-efficacy. Leadership confidence was the most important, but confidence in science, mathematics, writing, using…

Women whose choices were in nontraditional career fields were significantly more likely to be making choices congruent with their personality type. While sex-role orientation was not significantly related to either congruence or traditionality, masculine-typed women were most likely to make nontraditional and congruent career choices. (Author)

Examines models of self-efficacy and self-esteem pathways to depression in 405 college students. Both models showed excellent fit to the data. The more parsimonious model indicated that efficacy and esteem variables were related to depressive symptoms indirectly through their relationships to the intermediate adjustment variables of career…

Examined utility of gender, traditionality of choice, and gender role identification as moderators of interest-field congruence and ability-level realism of academic major and occupational preferences in college students (N=592). Found traditionality of choice and gender role unrelated to interest-field congruence. (Author/NB)

The present study, based on three samples of college students totaling 1,832 participants, resulted in the conclusion that a 5-level response continuum for the short form of the Career Decision Self-Efficacy Scale (CDSE) proved at least as reliable and valid as the 10-level continua used in normative studies. Values of coefficient alpha ranged…

Reviews the Kahn and Gelso (1997) and Kahn and Scott (1997) articles (both in this issue). Presents the author's opinion of the shortcomings of the articles and offers ideas to encourage more students to consider scientific and academic careers. (KW)