| Self-efficacy is frequently explored as a construct within assessments in counselor education
(Crutchfield & Borders, 1997; Cashwell & Dooley, 2001; Kozina et al., 2010). However, despite
the importance of advocacy in our field, there is a lack of research that measures self-efficacy in
relation to advocacy attitudes and behaviors (Smith et al., 2009). Specifically, there is an absence
of literature exploring the macrolevel of advocacy: public policy engagement. This study
developed and validated the initial version of the Self-Efficacy and Public Policy Engagement
Inventory (SEPPEI), an assessment that explores self-efficacy and public policy engagement of
masters counseling students enrolled in the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related
Educational Programs (CACREP) accredited programs in the United States. A quantitative,
cross-sectional design utilizing a web-based, anonymous survey composed of 30 items (11 demographic items, 19 SEPPEI items) was successfully completed by 137 participants. Upon
analyzing the data via Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA), results indicated that 7 items
composing a two-factor structure (“Global Understanding” and “Tangible Action”) emerged.
These factors support the hypothesis that the SEPPEI measures self-efficacy and public policy
engagement with reliability and construct validity. Furthermore, future research to expand upon
the validity of the SEPPEI to support advocacy in counselor education and the counseling
profession is explored.
Keywords: self-efficacy, public policy engagement, exploratory factor analysi |