Social Competence and Career Development: Validation of a Scale with Secondary Students / Competencia social y desarrollo profesional: validación de una escala de estudiantes secundarios

This paper presents a validation study of the Perceived Social Competence in Career Scale (SCCarS). The sample included 571 adolescents, 283 girls (49.6%) and 287 boys (50.3%), aged 14 to 25 years old (µ=16.33 + 1.41), 10th and 11th grade students attending secondary schools in the northern, central and southern Portugal. Exploratory factor analysis indicates the presence of eight factors, with eigenvalues superior to 1.00, explaining 79.16% of the total variance of the items. Confirmatory factor analysis provided support to the factorial structure of eight factors, with adequate fit indices (X²/ df=4.229, CFI= 0.909, GFI= 0.869, RMSEA= 0.079, p= 0.000). These results are consistent with the factorial structure found in previous studies carried out with Portuguese samples from 8th grade. Implications are drawn related to the need for further study of the psychometric characteristics of the SCCarS with young people from different age groups.

Este trabajo presenta un estudio de validación de la Escala de Competencia Social Percibida en la Carrera (ECSCar). La muestra incluyó 571 adolescentes, 283 mujeres (49.6%) y 287 hombres (50.3%), de 14 a 25 años de edad (µ=16.33±1.41), estudiantes de 10° y 11° grado de escuelas secundarias en el norte, centro y sur de Portugal. El análisis factorial exploratorio indica la presencia de ocho factores con valores propios superiores a 1.00, que explican 79.16% de la varianza total de los ítems. El análisis factorial confirmatorio apoya la estructura factorial de ocho factores con los índices de ajuste adecuados (X²/df=4.229, CFI= 0.909, GFI= 0.869, RMSEA = 0.079, p= 0.000). Estos resultados son consistentes con la estructura factorial encontrada en estudios previos realizados con muestras de portugueses de 8° grado. Se elaboran implicaciones relativas a la necesidad de un mayor estudio de las características psicométricas de la ECSCar con jóvenes de diferentes grupos de edad.

Análise fatorial confirmatória da prova de avaliação de competência social face à carreira / Confirmatory factor analysis of the perceived social competence scale

A competência social diz respeito à forma como as pessoas percebem e atuam face a uma variedade de situações sociais. Este estudo avalia as características métricas da Prova de Avaliação de Competência Social face à Carreira (PACS-Car). Participaram 572 adolescentes (M=13,28 anos; DP=0,59), do 8º ano de escolaridade¹ de escolas portuguesas. Os resultados da Análise Fatorial Confirmatória apontam para uma solução fatorial constituída por oito fatores. Os índices globais de adequação registados para o modelo são bastante robustos, comprovando a sua qualidade no ajustamento aos dados empíricos (X²/gl=4,097, CFI=0,895, GFI=0,851, RMSEA=0,079). Estes resultados estimulam ao desenvolvimento de pesquisa e intervenções que abordem as competências sociais para a promoção de comportamentos socialmente inteligentes de adaptação, progresso, e sucesso de carreira dos jovens...

Social competence is concerned to how people perceive and act in a variety of social situations. This study evaluates the psychometric characteristics of the Perceived Social Competence Scale (PSC-Car). Participants were 572 Portuguese adolescents (M=13.28 years; SD=.59) who are in the 8th grade. Results of the Confirmatory Factor Analysis suggest a factorial solution consisting of eight factors. The global indices of fitness of the model are quite robust, proving that it is a good solution in the adjustment of empirical data (X²/df=4.097, CFI=.895, GFI=.851, RMSEA=.079). The results stimulate the development of new researches and interventions that approach social skills in order to develop socially intelligent behaviors for career adaptation, advancement and success of young people...