Development and Validation of the Career Authenticity Scale (CAS).

Abstract

The self is crucial in career development, and authenticity emerges when individuals live in accordance with their true selves. This true self includes a deep awareness of one's abilities, cognitive, physical, and emotional traits, and unbiased answers to "Who am I?". Given its importance in career development, originality can significantly impact one's professional journey. This study brings a new structure to the field of career counseling with the term career authenticity. Career authenticity is a condition that emerges when individuals manage external influences and make their career choices in accordance with their true selves, thus achieving a work life that contributes to the meaning and purpose of their lives. The Career Authenticity Scale (CAS) was developed and validated in two samples of university students. In Study 1 (n = 402), the CAS was developed, and a structure consisting of 12 items and three dimensions was obtained as a result of exploratory factor analysis. Calculations also included the internal reliability coefficients of the CAS. In Study 2 (n = 322), the structure confirming the factors obtained in the first study was confirmed. Analyses also included convergent and discriminant validity, criterion-related validity, measurement invariance across gender, and item discrimination power of the CAS. The results show that the CAS meets the conditions for convergent and discriminant validity. A positive relationship was detected between the CAS and vocational outcome expectations and career proactive behaviors. The CAS was found to provide measurement invariance at configural, metric, scalar and strict invariance levels according to gender. In conclusion, the CAS was proven to be a valid and reliable measurement tool.