Self-directedness in work-related learning processes. Theoretical perspectives and development of a measurement instrument

This book chapter investigates the concept of self-directedness in work-related learning processes and its relationship to other related constructs such as self-regulated learning, personal agency, proactive personality and personal initiative. It also describes the development of an instrument to measure self-directedness in work-related learning processes (SDL-scale) for use with employees having different qualification levels. The SDL-instrument is a 14-item scale which measures and individual’s characteristic adaption to steer and take responsibility in diagnosing learning needs and setting goals, choosing and implementing appropriate learning strategies and evaluating and adjusting the learning process. An exploratory study involving 940 low-qualified and high-qualified employees revealed a uni-dimensional structure. A second and third study was conducted in a sample of 408 low-qualified employees and in a sample of 787 low-qualified adult learners joining courses in adult education institutions and confirmed the one-factor structure. Discriminant, convergent and cross-cultural validity was also examined. In a fourth study model fit was compared of the low-qualified and higher qualified group separately and was found invariant across both sample. In each of the samples, both scales showed satisfactory internal consistency.