Validation of a Measuring Instrument to Ascertain the Effectiveness of Career Guidance Provided as Part of the Subject Life Orientation

Evidence based policy development is currently underscored international. Specifically within the South African context it is of great concern that Life Orientation as part of Educational policy has been implemented without any clear indication of its efficacy. The article reports on the development and validation of a measuring instrument designed to quantitatively evaluate the effectiveness of career guidance received as part of the subject Life Orientation. The sample consisted out of 430 grade 10 respondents from the Mangaung area, the capital of the Free State province. A 25-item self-reporting instrument was utilized measuring service delivery, personal confidence, completion of personality inventories, subject satisfaction and knowledge of career path. The theoretical underpinning for the before mentioned questionnaire was the Social Cognitive Career Development Theory. Cronbach Alpha Coefficient was used to determine the reliability of the scale (? = 0.86), followed by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Exploratory factor analysis yielded a 6-factor solution, however parallel analysis and scree-test identified a 3-factor solution. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that the 3-factor model was a good fit. It is recommended that the questionnaire be amended and tested in various other provinces and that results of various studies are used in educational policy development.