A systematic literature review on the development and contextualization of career goal scales

Department of Psychology, Faculty of Psychology, Universitas Negeri Surabaya, Indonesia.

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Abstract

Career goals are crucial in guiding academic persistence, career decision-making, and long-term success. However, existing instruments to measure career goals have been predominantly developed in Western contexts, with limited attention to non-Western settings such as Indonesia or Asia. This study aims to systematically review the development of career goal instruments among emerging adults to address this gap. A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted following the PRISMA protocol across four databases Google Scholar. The review identified three key instruments developed between 2015 and 2025: the Career Goal Discrepancy Scale, Positive Career Goal Discrepancy Scale, and Individual– Parent Career Goal Discrepancy Scale. These scales reflect a shift from focusing solely on negative discrepancies to incorporating positive goal pursuit and relational influences, particularly parental expectations. While the instruments demonstrate robust psychometric properties, they remain limited in cultural adaptability and contextual relevance outside Western settings. The findings highlight the need to develop more culturally grounded career goal measures. Practically, this review offers guidance for Indonesian researchers and practitioners in adapting or constructing instruments that better capture the career goals of university students transitioning to the workforce.