Evaluating the psychometric properties of a scale to measure medical students' career-related values

Purpose. To develop and validate a survey instrument to measure medical stu dents' career-related values. Method. A literature review yielded seven content domains that consistently correlated with medical students' career choices: biosocial orientation, b ioscientific orientation, academic interest, prestige, income, desire to av oid role strain, and desire for role support. Item pools for the content do mains were developed by examining previously published questionnaires and r esearch and by interviewing health professionals, medical students, and pre medical students. The instrument was tested in two phases. In phase 1, a 96 -item questionnaire was mailed to all 847 students at the University of Min nesota School of Medicine. Results were submitted to item analysis and expl oratory factor analysis. Construct validity of the questionnaire was assess ed by (1) seeing if the seven scales correlated to one another in expected directions, (2) correlating students' survey responses with their self-repo rted interests in primary care, surgery, or radiology, and (3) seeing if an ticipated sex differences were realized across the seven content domains. I n phase 2, a random subgroup of 134 students was sent the final 46-item ins trument twice to determine its short-term test-retest reliability. Results. In phase I, 670 students (79.2%) returned usable questionnaires. S even scales corresponding to the content domains emerged from factor analys es. Cumulatively, they accounted for 43.9% of the variance in students' res ponses, and their internal consistency coefficients ranged from .71 to .87. All scales correlated with one another in the directions expected and, wit h two exceptions, at highly significant levels. High scores on bioscientifi c orientation, prestige, and income scales correlated positively with stude nts' interest in surgery or radiology careers, but correlated negatively wi th their interest in primary care. High scores on biosocial orientation and avoid role strain scales correlated positively with students' interest in primary care, but correlated negatively with students' interest in surgery or radiology. Women had higher scores than did men on biosocial orientation , avoid role strain, and role support scales and lower scores on bioscienti fic orientation, academic interest, prestige, and income. Of these, all but the difference in role support scores were highly significant. In phase 2, 89 students (66%) returned questionnaires. Test-retest reliability for the seven scales ranged from .83 to .92, Conclusions. The seven scales pertaining to students' career-related values collectively demonstrated high internal consistency, short-term test-retes t reliability, and evidence of construct validity. If predictive validity c an be demonstrated in future research, the scales could have important appl ications for researchers, guidance counselors, and students, and they might also be useful to administrators who wish to identify students interested in primary care earlier in the students' training.