Development and testing of the Clinical Research Appraisal Inventory-Short Form.
OBJECTIVE
The National Academy of Sciences stressed the need for a doctorally prepared workforce and earlier entry into doctoral study in nursing and the behavioral, social, and basic sciences. Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) suggests that self-efficacy for career related skills informs career choices. Thus, increasing clinical research self-efficacy early in students' studies could increase their choice of a research career. To test interventions, a psychometrically sound measure of clinical research self-efficacy is needed.


METHODS
We examined the psychometrics of the Clinical Research Appraisal Inventory-Short Form (CRAI-SF) in undergraduate and first-year graduate students (N = 268). This scale is a modification of the Clinical Research Appraisal Inventory, which measures physician-scientists' clinical research self-efficacy.


RESULTS
Content validity was supported by external review. Factor analysis revealed six factors explaining 75% of scale variance. Internal consistency of subscales and total scale ranged from .84 to .98. Differences in scores by gender (p = .016) and discipline of study (p = .000) supported construct validity.


CONCLUSIONS
The CRAI-SF is a useful measure of undergraduate and first-year graduate students' perceived clinical research self-efficacy.
Lucille Sanzero
LS
Eller
Elise L
EL
Lev
Lori L
LL
Bakken
D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate / Q000592:standards*; D004511:Education, Nursing, Graduate / Q000592:standards*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D006801:Humans; D015399:Nursing Research / Q000193:education*; D011361:Professional Competence; D011594:Psychometrics; D020377:Self Efficacy