Developing a Theory-Based Measure of Career Decision-Making: The Decisional Process Inventory

Abstract

The present study describes the development and an initial assessment of the psychometric properties of the Decisional Process Inventory (DPI). The DPI served as an empirical test of Gestalt therapy homeostasis theory for conceptualizing and facilitating career development and decision-making. The inventory is intended to assess career decidedness or individual level of progress toward reaching a career-decided state. The DPI consists of 70 items that address respondents' perceptions and experiences of the career decision-making process. Participants responded to the DPI ( n = 248), the Career Decision Scale (CDS; Osipow, Carney, Winer, Yanico, & Koschier, 1976) ( n = 242), the Occupational Alternatives Question (OAQ; Zener & Schnuelle, 1976) ( n = 244), and the Gestalt Contact Styles Questionnaire-Revised (GSCQ-R; Woldt & Kepner, 1986) ( n = 243). Results supported the content validity of the items and criterion-related validity of the inventory. Seven factors related to the career decision-making process are described.