The Employable Skills Self-Efficacy Survey: An assessment of skill confidence for psychology undergraduates.

Abstract

The American Psychological Association (APA) advocates for professional development within undergraduate psychology programs, emphasizing the development of several employable skills before graduation (APA, 2013). However, there are few resources to help psychology programs, or students themselves, monitor skill development. The Employable Skills Self-Efficacy Survey (ESSES) allows departments, faculty, and students to determine a baseline of skill efficacy, as well as monitor the development of skills throughout a psychology program or as a result of a particular experience. We assessed the psychometric properties of the ESSES. The scale has strong internal consistency (α = .66 to .87) and test-retest reliability (r = .76 to .89), as well as convergent validity between particular skill domains and various professional self-efficacy measures. We discuss the ways departments, faculty, and students may use the ESSES as a tool for skill development.