Construction and initial validations of the major decision-making self-efficacy scale (MDMSES) for Chinese high school students

Abstract Background Major decision-making self-efficacy (MDMSE) is an important indicator of students’ ability to make effective decisions in specialty selection. It has implications for students’ personal growth and career counselling interventions. While the previous MDMSES has been widely used in...

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Main Authors: Jingwen Li, Yanan Zhang, Limei Gao, Zhihai Qiu, Yu Zhou, Ying Guo, Tong Hao, Yongyi Li, Yu Bian, Dandan Li, Chunyan Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-01-01
Series:BMC Psychology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02405-9
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author Jingwen Li
Yanan Zhang
Limei Gao
Zhihai Qiu
Yu Zhou
Ying Guo
Tong Hao
Yongyi Li
Yu Bian
Dandan Li
Chunyan Zhu
author_facet Jingwen Li
Yanan Zhang
Limei Gao
Zhihai Qiu
Yu Zhou
Ying Guo
Tong Hao
Yongyi Li
Yu Bian
Dandan Li
Chunyan Zhu
author_sort Jingwen Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Major decision-making self-efficacy (MDMSE) is an important indicator of students’ ability to make effective decisions in specialty selection. It has implications for students’ personal growth and career counselling interventions. While the previous MDMSES has been widely used in the context of China’s New College Entrance Examination reform, the increased choice of majors and advancement of career planning necessitate a new scale to assess high school students’ MDMSE levels. Methods Scale items were generated based on a literature review, student interviews, and expert reviews. Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis were used to assess the appropriateness of the scale’s structure, and network analysis was used to calculate concurrent validity. Retest reliability was calculated to evaluate stability. Results The MDMSES contains 24 items with five factors (Information Acquisition, Decision Persistence, Self-Determination, Self-Evaluation, and Social Support). The results show that the scale has a good five-factor structure (χ2/df = 1.91, CFI = 0.92, TLI = 0.91, RMSEA = 0.05, and SRMR = 0.06), and the internal consistency reliability of the total scale is 0.91. Conclusion The scale development results satisfied the psychometric and statistical criteria, allowing the scale to be used as a means of detection to support intervention efforts for individuals with low MDMSE levels.
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spelling doaj-art-ca32c28fc51d46b09e94f53f631b519d2025-02-02T12:48:12ZengBMCBMC Psychology2050-72832025-01-0113111410.1186/s40359-025-02405-9Construction and initial validations of the major decision-making self-efficacy scale (MDMSES) for Chinese high school studentsJingwen Li0Yanan Zhang1Limei Gao2Zhihai Qiu3Yu Zhou4Ying Guo5Tong Hao6Yongyi Li7Yu Bian8Dandan Li9Chunyan Zhu10School of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical UniversitySchool of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical UniversitySchool of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical UniversitySchool of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical UniversitySchool of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical UniversityNo.1 High SchoolSchool of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical UniversitySchool of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical UniversitySchool of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical UniversitySchool of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical UniversitySchool of Mental Health and Psychological Sciences, Anhui Medical UniversityAbstract Background Major decision-making self-efficacy (MDMSE) is an important indicator of students’ ability to make effective decisions in specialty selection. It has implications for students’ personal growth and career counselling interventions. While the previous MDMSES has been widely used in the context of China’s New College Entrance Examination reform, the increased choice of majors and advancement of career planning necessitate a new scale to assess high school students’ MDMSE levels. Methods Scale items were generated based on a literature review, student interviews, and expert reviews. Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor Analysis were used to assess the appropriateness of the scale’s structure, and network analysis was used to calculate concurrent validity. Retest reliability was calculated to evaluate stability. Results The MDMSES contains 24 items with five factors (Information Acquisition, Decision Persistence, Self-Determination, Self-Evaluation, and Social Support). The results show that the scale has a good five-factor structure (χ2/df = 1.91, CFI = 0.92, TLI = 0.91, RMSEA = 0.05, and SRMR = 0.06), and the internal consistency reliability of the total scale is 0.91. Conclusion The scale development results satisfied the psychometric and statistical criteria, allowing the scale to be used as a means of detection to support intervention efforts for individuals with low MDMSE levels.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02405-9Major choiceSelf-efficacyDecision-makingCareer developmentHigh school students
spellingShingle Jingwen Li
Yanan Zhang
Limei Gao
Zhihai Qiu
Yu Zhou
Ying Guo
Tong Hao
Yongyi Li
Yu Bian
Dandan Li
Chunyan Zhu
Construction and initial validations of the major decision-making self-efficacy scale (MDMSES) for Chinese high school students
BMC Psychology
Major choice
Self-efficacy
Decision-making
Career development
High school students
title Construction and initial validations of the major decision-making self-efficacy scale (MDMSES) for Chinese high school students
title_full Construction and initial validations of the major decision-making self-efficacy scale (MDMSES) for Chinese high school students
title_fullStr Construction and initial validations of the major decision-making self-efficacy scale (MDMSES) for Chinese high school students
title_full_unstemmed Construction and initial validations of the major decision-making self-efficacy scale (MDMSES) for Chinese high school students
title_short Construction and initial validations of the major decision-making self-efficacy scale (MDMSES) for Chinese high school students
title_sort construction and initial validations of the major decision making self efficacy scale mdmses for chinese high school students
topic Major choice
Self-efficacy
Decision-making
Career development
High school students
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-025-02405-9
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