Critical Consciousness Scale and Career Contexts: Cross-Cultural Adaptation and Psychometric Properties of the Brazilian Version

Abstract

According to the Brazilian pedagogue Paulo Freire, Critical Consciousness aims to understand people’s ability to critically analyze social and structural inequities and their role in social power relations, while also promoting political and social engagement, both individually and collectively. In career studies, the Psychology of Working Theory views Critical Consciousness as an individual moderator of variables that predict perception and access to decent work. This article presents the cross-cultural adaptation procedures and psychometric properties of the Brazilian version of the Critical Consciousness Scale. The sample consisted of 554 Brazilian workers, with women making up the majority (62.5%), and an average age of 35.8 years (SD = 14.3). The analysis of the internal structure (exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses) revealed a 24-item measure with three factors: critical reflection (α = 0.93; ω = 0.93), critical responsibility (α = 0.73; ω = 0.77), and critical action (α = 0.84; ω = 0.85). The instrument showed partial invariance between groups based on gender, subjective social class, and education. Further investigations into the construct in the career field with different groups of workers are discussed, along with the need for caution when interpreting the Freirean conception of consciousness based on psychometric models.