Development and Validation of the Career Imagination Scale (CIS)

Although stimulating career imagination is important, little research has focused on its characteristics, and no measure of career imagination domains has yet been developed. To address this issue, the aim of this work was to develop a new instrument to measure career imagination. In Study 1 ( n = 457), the CIS was developed, and an EFA was conducted. In Study II ( n = 520), a CFA was performed to test the four-factor structure (Frequency, Emotional Valence, Complexity, Directedness). Gender invariance was assessed. In Study III ( n = 380), convergent and discriminant validity were tested with positive/negative affect, imaginative capacity, and vision about future. The results indicate good model fit and reliability of the four-factor structure and gender invariance. Validity was confirmed. These findings will help researchers expand their understanding of career imagination by providing a validated measure that will support studies of its antecedents, outcomes, and role in career development.