Career Assessment Based on Social Cognitive Career Theory

Where Are We and Where Are We Headed?

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-8623.2025.1.47064

Keywords:

self-efficacy, professional interests, career choice, vocational guidance, professional development

Abstract

The Social Cognitive Career Theory (SCCT) has consolidated over the past 30 years, with a notable increase in the number of studies conducted in Brazil. One of the most significant advances is the availability of assessment instruments for the phenomena investigated in this theory. This article aims to present the theoretical evolution of the SCCT models and provide an overview of the assessment instruments available in Brazil. Instruments for evaluating professional interests, self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and barriers and supports are described, along with their evidence of validity and reliability. The authors observed a more significant number of instruments on interests and self-efficacy. All critical phenomena of the SCCT have instruments with adequate validity and reliability evidence for research use. The discussion focuses on national research’s theoretical and methodological achievements and aspects that require further investigation.

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Author Biographies

Maiana Nunes, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Psychologist, PhD in Psychology from the University of São Francisco. Professor in the Psychology Graduate Program at the Federal University of Santa Catarina. Member of the Working Group "Careers: information, guidance and counseling" of ANPEPP

Manoela Ziebell de Oliveira, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul (PUCRS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Psychologist, PhD in Psychology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul. Professor at the Psychology Graduate Program at the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul. Member of the ANPEPP Working Group “Careers: information, guidance and counseling” since 2016. CNPq Productivity Fellow 2.

João Carlos Caselli Messias, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas (PUC-Campinas), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.

Psychologist, PhD in Psychology from the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas. Post-Doctorate in Psychology from the Dom Bosco Catholic University Research professor in the Postgraduate Program in Psychology at PUC Campinas. Leader of the group “Work and Career Psychology: research and intervention”. Member of the Research Ethics Committee with Human Beings at PUC Campinas. Member of the Working Group “Careers: information, guidance and counseling” of ANPEPP.

Alexsandro Luiz De Andrade, Federal University of Espírito Santo (UFES), Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil.

Psychologist from the Federal University of Santa Catarina, PhD in Psychology from the Federal University of Espírito Santo. CNPq Productivity Fellow, level 2.

Diana Aguiar Vieira, Polytechnic Institute of Porto (IPP), Porto, Portugal

I am a psychologist, researcher and Associate Professor in the area of behavioural sciences at the Porto Accounting and Business School (ISCAP), Polytechnic Institute of Porto (P.PORTO), Portugal. Former Vice-Dean of Porto Accounting and Business School (ISCAP). Founder and Director of the Coaching, Career and Personal Development Unit (2011-2018) and the Alumni Office (2012-2018), both ISCAP. Former Pro-Rector of P.PORTO, responsible for employability and building an Alumni Strategy for all the Polytechnic of Porto Schools. Founder of the ICAReAlumni community (https://icarealumni.com/). My research interests include self-efficacy, alumni relations, career, employability, coaching, soft skills, transversal skills. Participation in several international research projects and partnerships with European and Brazilian universities.

Marco A. P. Teixeira, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.

Doctor of Psychology from the Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS). Full Professor at the Institute of Psychology, Social Work, Health and Human Communication at UFRGS and coordinator of the Professional Guidance Service and the Student Support Center at UFRGS. Coordinator of the Center for Studies and Interventions in Career (NEIC). Ad hoc advisor for the Psychology Area at CAPES. CNPq Researcher 1C.

Rodolfo A. M. Ambiel, Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas (PUC-Campinas), Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.

Psychologist, PhD in Psychology from the University of São Francisco. Professor at the Psychology Graduate Program at PUC-Campinas. Editor-in-Chief of the Psico-USF Journal (Qualis A2) between 2016 and 2019. Editor-in-Chief of the Brazilian Journal of Vocational Guidance (Qualis A2) between 2020 and 2022. Former President of the Brazilian Association of Vocational Guidance (ABOP) - terms 2015-2017 and 2017-2019. Member of the ANPEPP Working Group “Careers: information, guidance and counseling” since 2016. CNPq Productivity Fellow 1D.

Thaline da Cunha Moreira, Jaguariúna University Center (UniFAJ), Jaguariúna, São Paulo, Brazil.

Psychologist, PhD in Psychology from the University of São Francisco, Post-doctoral degree in Psychology from PUCRS. Member of the Working Group “Careers: information, guidance and counseling” of ANPEPP since 2018. Vice-President of the Brazilian Association of Professional and Career Guidance (ABRAOPC) - 2024/2025 term.

 

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Published

2025-12-12

How to Cite

Nunes, M., Ziebell de Oliveira, M., Caselli Messias, J. C., De Andrade, A. L., Aguiar Vieira, D., A. P. Teixeira, M., … da Cunha Moreira, T. (2025). Career Assessment Based on Social Cognitive Career Theory: Where Are We and Where Are We Headed?. Psico, 56(1), e47064. https://doi.org/10.15448/1980-8623.2025.1.47064

Issue

Vol. 56 No. 1 (2025): Single Volume - Continuous flow

Section

Psychological Assessment

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Copyright (c) 2025 Maiana Nunes, Manoela Ziebell de Oliveira, João Carlos Caselli Messias, Alexsandro Luiz De Andrade, Diana Aguiar Vieira, Marco A. P. Teixeira, Rodolfo A. M. Ambiel, Thaline da Cunha Moreira

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