Diffusion, support, approach, and external barriers as distinct theoretical dimensions of the Career Decision Scale: Disconfirming evidence?

Abstract

There is a growing body of literature aimed at identifying the dimensions of career indecision as measured by the Career Decision Scale (CDS). Different conclusions have emerged, leading to theoretical and empirical controversies. Recently, a four-factor oblique solution with relatively important correlations among factors was proposed by Shimizu et al. (1988). The main purpose of the present study was to test the relevance of this multidimensional solution via confirmatory analysis. Two other competitive models (unidimensional and hierarchical) were also assessed using a sample of 589 students. The adequacy of the four-factor solution was confirmed, but results suggested that a unidimensional model was the most parsimonious. The hierarchical model was rejected. Results are compared to those obtained in previous factor-analytic studies of the CDS. Suggestions for further research and for counseling use are also presented.