Development and Validation of an Instrument to Assess Pro-Pensity to Cosmopolitanism in Adolescence

Abstract

The study was designed to provide the initial validation of the instrument “How cosmopolitan do I think I am?” to assess the propensity to cosmopolitanism in adolescents interested in reflecting about their future career choices. Two studies were carried out to test psychometric requisites of the instrument “How cosmopolitan do I think I am?” Specifically, in the first study, after developing items and examining content validity, the factorial structure and the reliability of the scale were tested. The results showed good fit indexes for a factor structure characterized by three-correlated factors and for a second order-factor structure. This last factor structure model suggests that three hypothesised factors can be considered indicators of a global dimension of cosmopolitanism. In the second study, discriminant validity was evaluated. The results confirmed that the three dimensions of cosmopolitanism are related but distinct from career adaptability (CA) and the tendency to consider systemic challenges to attain sustainable development (TCSC). Overall, the results observed supported the use of the questionnaire in career vocational guidance and counseling activities.