Validation of a ‘Work Readiness Scale’ for health professional (HP) graduates

Sharifah Sulaiha Syed Aznal; Vishna Devi V. Nadarajah; Siew Kim Kwa; Liang Lin Seow; David W.K. Chong; Nagashekhara Molugulu; Erwin Jiayuan Khoo; Pei Sin Keng

doi:10.1080/0142159X.2019.1697434

Validation of a ‘Work Readiness Scale’ for health professional (HP) graduates

Sharifah Sulaiha Syed Aznal, Vishna Devi V. Nadarajah, Siew Kim Kwa, Liang Lin Seow, David W.K. Chong, Nagashekhara Molugulu, Erwin Jiayuan Khoo, Pei Sin Keng

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review

6 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Background: There is a continuing concern about how graduate work readiness (WR) reflects on the success of universities meeting the requirements of employment. This study is to establish a valid and reliable instrument measuring WR in health professions (HP) graduates of medicine, pharmacy and dentistry. Methods: The study from March 2016 to April 2017 was conducted to validate the ‘Work Readiness Scale’ (WRS; Deakin University) using Principal Component Analysis and Cronbach - α for internal consistency. It was modified to a four-item even-point scale and distributed as an online survey to 335 final year students of the three programs. Results: A reduction from 64 to 53 items provided good internal consistency in all factors: WC 0.85, OA 0.88, SI 0.88 and PC 0.71. The PC domain had the greatest item reduction from 22 to 6, whilst the SI domain increased in items from 8 to 19. These changes may be associated with difference in understanding or interpretation of the items in the SI domain. Conclusion: The modified WRS can be used to evaluate job readiness in HP graduates. However, it needs further refinement and validation in specific educational and employment contexts.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	S33-S38
Number of pages	6
Journal	Medical Teacher
Volume	43
Issue number	S1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1080/0142159X.2019.1697434
Publication status	Published - 4 May 2021
Externally published	Yes

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10.1080/0142159X.2019.1697434

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title = "Validation of a {\textquoteleft}Work Readiness Scale{\textquoteright} for health professional (HP) graduates",

abstract = "Background: There is a continuing concern about how graduate work readiness (WR) reflects on the success of universities meeting the requirements of employment. This study is to establish a valid and reliable instrument measuring WR in health professions (HP) graduates of medicine, pharmacy and dentistry. Methods: The study from March 2016 to April 2017 was conducted to validate the {\textquoteleft}Work Readiness Scale{\textquoteright} (WRS; Deakin University) using Principal Component Analysis and Cronbach - α for internal consistency. It was modified to a four-item even-point scale and distributed as an online survey to 335 final year students of the three programs. Results: A reduction from 64 to 53 items provided good internal consistency in all factors: WC 0.85, OA 0.88, SI 0.88 and PC 0.71. The PC domain had the greatest item reduction from 22 to 6, whilst the SI domain increased in items from 8 to 19. These changes may be associated with difference in understanding or interpretation of the items in the SI domain. Conclusion: The modified WRS can be used to evaluate job readiness in HP graduates. However, it needs further refinement and validation in specific educational and employment contexts.",

author = "{Syed Aznal}, {Sharifah Sulaiha} and Nadarajah, {Vishna Devi V.} and Kwa, {Siew Kim} and Seow, {Liang Lin} and Chong, {David W.K.} and Nagashekhara Molugulu and Khoo, {Erwin Jiayuan} and Keng, {Pei Sin}",

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AU - Syed Aznal, Sharifah Sulaiha

AU - Nadarajah, Vishna Devi V.

AU - Kwa, Siew Kim

AU - Seow, Liang Lin

AU - Chong, David W.K.

AU - Molugulu, Nagashekhara

AU - Khoo, Erwin Jiayuan

AU - Keng, Pei Sin

PY - 2021/5/4

Y1 - 2021/5/4

N2 - Background: There is a continuing concern about how graduate work readiness (WR) reflects on the success of universities meeting the requirements of employment. This study is to establish a valid and reliable instrument measuring WR in health professions (HP) graduates of medicine, pharmacy and dentistry. Methods: The study from March 2016 to April 2017 was conducted to validate the ‘Work Readiness Scale’ (WRS; Deakin University) using Principal Component Analysis and Cronbach - α for internal consistency. It was modified to a four-item even-point scale and distributed as an online survey to 335 final year students of the three programs. Results: A reduction from 64 to 53 items provided good internal consistency in all factors: WC 0.85, OA 0.88, SI 0.88 and PC 0.71. The PC domain had the greatest item reduction from 22 to 6, whilst the SI domain increased in items from 8 to 19. These changes may be associated with difference in understanding or interpretation of the items in the SI domain. Conclusion: The modified WRS can be used to evaluate job readiness in HP graduates. However, it needs further refinement and validation in specific educational and employment contexts.

AB - Background: There is a continuing concern about how graduate work readiness (WR) reflects on the success of universities meeting the requirements of employment. This study is to establish a valid and reliable instrument measuring WR in health professions (HP) graduates of medicine, pharmacy and dentistry. Methods: The study from March 2016 to April 2017 was conducted to validate the ‘Work Readiness Scale’ (WRS; Deakin University) using Principal Component Analysis and Cronbach - α for internal consistency. It was modified to a four-item even-point scale and distributed as an online survey to 335 final year students of the three programs. Results: A reduction from 64 to 53 items provided good internal consistency in all factors: WC 0.85, OA 0.88, SI 0.88 and PC 0.71. The PC domain had the greatest item reduction from 22 to 6, whilst the SI domain increased in items from 8 to 19. These changes may be associated with difference in understanding or interpretation of the items in the SI domain. Conclusion: The modified WRS can be used to evaluate job readiness in HP graduates. However, it needs further refinement and validation in specific educational and employment contexts.

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Validation of a ‘Work Readiness Scale’ for health professional (HP) graduates

Abstract

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