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Development and validation of the Dynamic Career Scale (DCS): a psychodynamic conceptualization of career adjustment

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Abstract

The purpose of this research was to develop and validate a new instrument, the Dynamic Career Scale (DCS), which measures four different modes of functioning in facing career failures and challenges (mania, envy, manic reparation, and true reparation) according to Klein’s object relations theory. Two studies were respectively conducted on adult working participants (N = 260, Study 1) and newly-qualified psychologists enrolled in a career research program (N = 196, Study 2), to assess reliability, factorial validity and convergent evidence of validity. Overall, findings suggest adequate psychometric properties of the DCS and its potential usefulness to grasp unconscious processes affecting career adjustment.

Résumé

Développement et validation de Échelle Dynamique de Carrière (DCS): Une conceptualisation psychodynamique de l’ajustement de carrière. L’objectif de ce projet était de développer et de valider un nouvel instrument, le Dynamic Career Scale (DCS), permettant de mesurer quatre modes de fonctionnement différents face aux échecs et défis de carrière (manie, envie, réparation maniaque et réparation véritable), selon la théorie de relations d’objet de Klein. Deux études évaluent la fiabilité, la validité factorielle et la validité convergente de l’échelle. L’étude 1 comprenait des participant.e.s adultes (N = 260) et l’étude 2 des psychologues nouvellement qualifié.e.s inscrit.e.s à un programme de recherche sur les carrières (N = 196). Dans l’ensemble, les résultats suggèrent des propriétés psychométriques adéquates du DCS et son utilité potentielle dans l’évaluation des processus inconscients affectant l’ajustement de carrière.

Zusammenfassung

Entwicklung und Validierung der Dynamic Career Scale (DCS): Eine psychodynamische Konzeptualisierung von Laufbahnanpassung. Ziel dieses Projekts war es, ein neues Instrument, die Dynamic Career Scale (DCS), zu entwickeln und zu validieren. Mit der Skala können vier verschiedene Funktionsweisen, die bei Karrierefehlschlägen und -herausforderungen (Manie, Neid, manische Wiedergutmachung und echte Wiedergutmachung) laut der Objektbeziehungstheorie von Klein auftreten können, gemessen werden. Zwei Studien erfassen die Zuverlässigkeit, faktorielle Validität und konvergente Validität der Skala. Studie 1 umfasste berufstätige erwachsene Teilnehmer (N = 260) und Studie 2 neu qualifizierte Psychologen, die in ein Karriereforschungsprogramm aufgenommen wurden (N = 196). Insgesamt deuten die Ergebnisse auf angemessene psychometrische Eigenschaften des DCS und seinen potenziellen Nutzen für die Beurteilung von unbewussten Prozessen hin, die sich auf die Laufbahnanpassung auswirken.

Resumen

Desarrollo y Validación de la Escala Dinámica de Carrera (DCS): Una Conceptualización Psicodinámica del Ajuste de Carrera. El propósito de este proyecto consiste en desarrollar y validar un nuevo instrumento, la Escala Dinámica de Carrera (DCS), para medir cuatro modos diferentes de funcionamiento al enfrentar los fracasos y desafíos de la carrera (manía, envidia, reparación maníaca y reparación verdadera) de acuerdo con la teoría de relaciones objetuales de Klein. Dos estudios evalúan la fiabilidad, la validez factorial y la validez convergente de la escala. El Estudio 1 incluyó participantes adultos que trabajaban (N = 260), y el Estudio 2 psicólogos recientemente calificados inscritos en un programa de investigación de carrera (N = 196). En general, los hallazgos sugieren propiedades psicométricas adecuadas del DCS y su utilidad potencial para evaluar los procesos inconscientes que afectan el ajuste de la carrera.

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  1. Department of Dynamic and Clinical Psychology, “Sapienza” University of Rome, Via degli Apuli 1, 00185, Rome, Italy

    Andrea Caputo, Chiara Fregonese & Viviana Langher

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Caputo, A., Fregonese, C. & Langher, V. Development and validation of the Dynamic Career Scale (DCS): a psychodynamic conceptualization of career adjustment. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 20, 263–292 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-019-09403-5

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