This study compared two methods for assessing the specific factors underlying people’s reemployment self-efficacy (RSE). The first method used control belief measures, which assessed the specific factors perceived to make reemployment easy or difficult. The second method used motivational reason measures, which assessed the specific (nonhypothetical) factors people use to explain their overall RSE. Measures from both methods were applied to the same attribute categories, such as job availability, work qualifications, and job-listing information. An ethnically diverse sample of 815 unemployed individuals (mean age 37.2 years) registering for unemployment benefits in New York City participated. As hypothesized, results indicated that both control belief and motivational reason variables were related to RSE. In line with expectations, motivational reason variables explained substantial variance in RSE and scheduled interviews beyond that explained by the control belief variables. Moreover, the motivational reason method identified several variables influencing RSE that the control belief method was unable to identify as significant (e.g., having needed qualifications and job-listing knowledge). When results from both methods were presented to executive management at the New York City Department of Labor, motivational reason results had the strongest impact on subsequent policy decisions.
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