The purpose of this study was to investigate the cultural equivalence of the construct of vocational identity, as measured by the Vocational Identity Scale of My Vocational Situation, through an examination of the equivalence of factor structures across two socioracial groups. Specifically, this study is interested in the extent to which this instrument is able to demonstrate structural equivalence across samples of African American and White American students. Confirmatory factor analyses determined that a one-factor model, as suggested by Holland, Daiger, and Power, provided adequate fit for the African American and each of the two White American groups. However, a test of multigroup invariance indicated that the vocational identity factor structures were not equivalent across these groups. Implications for practice and research are discussed. In addition, the group invariance method of assessing cultural equivalence is critically examined.
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