Psychometric properties of the South African Career Interest Inventory – Short

Abstract

Background: The South African Career Interest Inventory – Short (SACII-Short) is used in research settings to measure Holland’s six interest factors. Conclusions reached in studies using the instrument are subject to the measurement properties of the SACII-Short items and scales.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the psychometric properties of the SACII-Short items and the fit of circumplex structure to the SACII-Short item and scale scores.

Method: Secondary data from South African university students and working adults (n = 673) were used. The graded response model was used to investigate the measurement properties of the items. Factor analysis was used to investigate the circumplex structure of the item and scale scores.

Results: Most of the SACII-Short items showed satisfactory measurement properties. Some concerns were observed with the item locations of the realistic and social items. The item and scale scores showed satisfactory fit to circumplex structure. The wording of some of the items could be reconsidered to increase the applicability of the content to the South African work context.

Conclusion: The SACII-Short demonstrates satisfactory psychometric properties for use in research settings. These psychometric properties support the validity of results obtained from studies that have used the SACII-Short scale scores as a proxy for vocational interests.