Occupational self-efficacy is an important resource for individuals in organizations. To be able to compare the occupational self-efficacy of employees across different countries, equivalent versions of the standard instruments need to be made available in different languages. In this article, the authors report on the structural and construct validity of an instrument that assesses occupational self-efficacy across five countries (Germany, Sweden, Belgium, United Kingdom, Spain), based on an overall sample of N =1,535. The instrument can be recommended for comparative use in German, Swedish, Belgian, Spanish, and British organizational contexts.
Abele, A-E., Stief, M., & Andra, M. (2000). Zur ökonomischen Erfassung beruflicher Selbstwirksamkeitserwartungen-Neukonstruktion einer BSW-Skala [On the economic measurement of occupational self-efficacy expectation: A new BSW scale]. Zeitschrift für Arbeits-und Organisationspsychologie, 44, 145-151.
2.
Abramis, D. (1994), Relationship of job stressors to job performance: Linear or an inverted-U? Psychological Reports, 75, 547-558.
Bandura, A. (1977a). Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral change. Psychological Review, 84, 191-215.
5.
Bandura, A. (1977b). Social learning theory. Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.
6.
Behling, O., & Law, K.S. (2000). Translating questionnaires and other research instruments: Problems and solutions (Vol. 07-131). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
7.
Bentler, P.M. (1990). Comparative fit indexes in structural models. Psychological Bulletin, 107, 238-246.
8.
Bollen, K.A. (1989). Structural equations with latent variables. New York: John Wiley.
9.
Bozeman, D.P., Perrewe, P.L., Hochwarter, W.A., & Brymer, R.A. (2001). Organizational politics, perceived control, and work outcomes: Boundary conditions on the effects of politics. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 31, 486-503.
10.
Browne, M.W., & Cudeck, R. (1993). Alternative ways of assessing model fit. In K. A. Bollen & J. S. Long (Eds.), Testing structural equations models (pp. 136-162). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
11.
Byrne, B.M., & Watkins, D. (2003). The issue of measurement invariance revisited . Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 34, 155-175.
12.
Chan, D. (2000). Detection of differential item functioning on the Kirton Adaption-Innovation Inventory using multiple-group mean and covariance structure analyses. Multivariate Behavioral Research, 35, 169-199.
Chin, Y.M. (2003). A study on development and validation of the Chinese Occupational Self-Efficacy Scale Unpublished master's thesis, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China.
15.
Claes, R., De Witte, H., Schalk, R., Guest, D., Isaksson, K., Krausz, M., et al. (2002). Het psychologisch contract van vaste en tijdelijke werknemers [The psychological contract of permanent and temporary workers]. Gedrag en Organisatie, 15, 436-455.
16.
Cook, J., & Wall, T. (1980). New work attitude measures of trust, organizational commitment and personal need non-fulfillment. Journal of Occupational Psychology, 53, 39-52.
17.
De Witte, H. (2000). Arbeidsethos en Jobonzekerheid: Meting en Gevolgen voor Welzijn, Tevredenheid en Inzet op het Werk [Work ethic and job insecurity: Measurement and consequences for well-being, satisfaction and dedication to work]. In R. Bouwen, K. De Witte, H. De Witte, & T. Taillieu (Eds.), Van groep naar gemeenschap [From group to community] (pp. 325-350). Leuven, Belgium: Garant.
18.
Drasgow, F., & Kanfer, R. (1985). Equivalence of psychological measurement in heterogeneous populations. Journal of Applied Psychology, 70, 662-680.
19.
Forester, M., Kahn, J.H., & Hesson-McInnis, M.S. (2004). Factor structures of three measures of research self-efficacy. Journal of Career Assessment, 12, 3-16.
20.
Grau, R., Salanova, M., & Peiró, J.M. (2001). Moderating effects of self-efficacy on occupational stress. Spanish Journal of Psychology, 5, 63-74.
21.
Hu, L., & Bentler, P.M. (1998). Fit indices in covariance structure modeling: Sensitivity to underparameterized model misspecification. Psychological Methods, 3, 424-453.
22.
Jerusalem, M., & Schwarzer, R. (1992). Self-efficacy as a resource factor in stress appraisal process. In R. Schwarzer (Ed.), Self-efficacy: Thought control of action. (pp. 194-213). Washington, DC: Hemisphere.
Judge, T.A., & Bono, J.E. (2001). Relationship of core self-evaluations trait-self-esteem, generalized self-efficacy, locus of control, and emotional stability-with job satisfaction and job performance: A meta-analysis. Journal of Applied Psychology, 86, 80-92.
25.
Kelloway, E.K. (1995). Structural equation modeling in perspective. Journal of Organizational Behavior, 16, 215-224.
26.
Kelly, K.R., & Nelson, R.C. (1999). Task-Specific Occupational Self-Efficacy Scale: A predictive validity study. Journal of Career Assessment , 7, 381-392.
27.
Koumoundourou, G.A. (2004). The reliability and validity of the Greek version of the Task-Specific Occupational Self-Efficacy Scale. British Journal of Guidance & Counselling, 32, 75-92.
28.
Lent, R.W., & Hackett, G. (1987). Career self-efficacy: Empirical status and future directions. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 30, 347-382.
29.
Lievens, F., & Anseel, F. (2004). Confirmatory factor analysis and invariance of an organizational citizenship behaviour measure across samples in a Dutch-speaking context. Journal of Occupational and Organizational Psychology , 77, 299-306.
30.
Meade, A.W., & Lautenschlager, G.J. . (2004). A comparison of items response theory and confirmatory factor analytic methodologies for establishing measurement equivalence/invariance. Organizational Research Methods, 7, 361-388.
31.
Moser, K., Schaffner, D., & Heinle, M. (2005). Entwicklung und Validierung einer bereichsspezifischen Skala zur Erfassung arbeitsbezogener kollektiver Wirksamkeitserwartungen [Development and validity of a new domain-specific scale for the measurement of work-related collective efficacy]. Zeitschrift für Arbeits-und Organisationspsychologie , 49, 85-91.
32.
Mudgett, B., & Quiñones, M. (1997, April). Self-efficacy beliefs: Comparison of two distinct measuresPoster presentation at the 12th Annual Conference, Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology, St. Louis, MO.
33.
Multon, K.D., Brown, S.D., & Lent, R.D. (1991). Relation of self-efficacy beliefs to academic outcomes: A meta-analytic investigation. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 38, 30-38.
34.
Nauta, M.M. (2004). Self-efficacy as a mediator of the relationships between personality factors and career interests. Journal of Career Assessment, 12, 381-394.
35.
Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). (1999). Classifying educational programmes Manual for ISCED-97 implementation in OECD countries. Paris: Author.
36.
Podsakoff, P.M., MacKenzie, S.B., Lee, J.Y., & Podsakoff, N.P. (2003). Common method biases in behavioral research: A critical review of the literature and recommended remedies . Journal of Applied Psychology, 88, 879-903.
37.
Price, J.L. (1997). Handbook of organizational measurement. International Journal of Manpower, 18, 305-558.
38.
Raju, N.S., Lafitte, L.J., & Byrne, B.M. (2002). Measurement equivalence: A comparison of methods based on confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory. Journal of Applied Psychology, 87, 517-529.
39.
Reise, S.P., Widaman, K.F., & Pugh, R.H. (1993). Confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory: Two approaches for exploring measurement equivalence. Psychological Bulletin, 114, 552-566.
40.
Rigotti, T., Mohr, G., Clinton, M., & Guest, D. (in press). Concepts and methods. In K. Isaksson, D. Guest, & H. De Witte (Eds.), Employment contracts, psychological contracts and worker well-being: A European studyOxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
41.
Sadri, G., & Robertson, I.T. (1993). Self-efficacy and work-related behaviour: A review and meta-analysis. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 42, 139-152.
42.
Salzberger, T., Sinkovics, R.R., & Schlegelmilch, B.B. (1999). Data equivalence in cross-cultural research: A comparison of classical test theory and latent trait theory based approaches. Australasian Marketing Journal , 7, 23-38.
43.
Scholz, U., Gutiérrez Doña, B., Sud, S., & Schwarzer, R. (2002). Is general self-efficacy a universal construct?European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 18, 242-251.
44.
Schriesheim, C. A., & Neider, L. L. (Eds.) (2001). Equivalence of measurement . Greenwich, CT: Information Age .
45.
Schwarzer, R. (1994). Optimistische Kompetenzerwartung: Zur Erfassung einer personellen Bewältigungsressource [Generalized self-efficacy: Assessment of a personal coping resource]. Diagnostica, 40, 105-123.
46.
Schwarzer, R., Bäßler, J., Kwiatek, P., & Schröder, K. (1997). The assessment of optimistic self-beliefs: Comparison of the German, Spanish, and Chinese versions of the General Self-Efficacy Scale. Applied Psychology: An International Review, 46, 69-88.
47.
Schyns, B., & von Collani, G. (2002). A new Occupational Self-Efficacy Scale and its relation to personality constructs and organisational variables . European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 11, 219-241.
48.
Schyns, B., Paul, T., Mohr, G., & Blank, H. (2005). Comparing antecedents and consequences of leader-member exchange in a German working context to findings in the U.S. European Journal of Work and Organizational Psychology, 14, 1-22.
49.
Sexton, T.L., & Tuckman, B.W. (1991). Self-beliefs and behavior: The role of self-efficacy and outcome expectation of time. Personality and Individual Differences, 12, 725-736.
50.
Shelton, S.H. (1990). Developing the construct of general self-efficacy . Psychological Reports, 66, 987-994.
51.
Sherer, M., Maddux, J.E., Mercandante, B., Prenticedunn, S., Jacobs, B., & Rogers, R. (1982). The Self-Efficacy Scale: Construction and validation . Psychological Reports, 51, 663-671.
52.
Snyder, C.R., Harris, C., Anderson, J.R., Holleran, S.A., Irving, L.M., Sigmon, S.T., et al. (1991). The will and the ways: Development and validation of an individual-differences measure of hope. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60, 570-585.
53.
Söhnlein, K.M. (1998, November). The relationship of job insecurity, career planning, self-efficacy, goal orientation and the self-development of survivors of a downsizing corporationDissertation Abstracts International-Section A: Humanities and Social Sciences, 59(5-A), 1436.
54.
Speier, C., & Frese, M. (1997). Generalized self-efficacy as a mediator and moderator between control and complexity at work and personal initiative: A longitudinal field study in East Germany. Human Performance, 10, 171-192.
55.
Stajkovic, A.D., & Luthans, F. (1998). Self-efficacy and work-related performance: A meta-analysis. Psychological Bulletin, 124, 240-261.
56.
Stäudel, T. (1988). Der Kompetenzfragebogen-Überprüfung eines Verfahrens der Selbsteinschätzung der heuristischen Kompetenz, belastender Emotionen und Verhaltenstendenzen beim Lösen komplexer Probleme [The Kompetenzfragebogen (competency questionnaire). Test of an instrument for assessing self-estimates of heuristic competency, stressful emotions and behavior tendencies in complex problem solving]. Diagnostica, 34, 136-148.
57.
Steiger, J.H. (1990). Structural model evaluation and modification: An interval estimation approach. Multivariate Behavioral Research , 25, 173-180.
Tracey, J.B., Hinkin, T.R., Tannenbaum, S., & Mathieu, J.E. (2001). The influence of individual characteristics and the work environment on varying levels of training outcomes. Human Resource Development Quarterly, 12, 5-23.
60.
Van de Vijver, F., & Leung, K. (1997). Methods and data analysis for cross-cultural researchThousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
61.
Werner, O., & Campbell, D. (1970). Translating, working through interpreters, and the problem of decentering. In R. Naroll & R. Cohen (Eds.), A handbook of method in cultural anthropology (pp. 398-420). New York: American Museum of Natural History.
62.
Woodruff, S.L., & Cashman, J.F. (1993). Task, domain, and general self-efficacy: A reexamination of the Self-Efficacy Scale. Psychological Reports, 72, 423-432.
