Enhancing Real-World Relevance of Visual-Spatial Career Aptitude Testing: Development and Validation in a Malaysian Context

This study describes the creation of a Visual-Spatial Aptitude Test, a crucial component of the Multiple Aptitude Test development project at a Malaysian private university. Despite the value of aptitude testing in career guidance, it has been overshadowed by interest and personality assessments. In response, the HELP Career Readiness Evaluation System (HELP-CaRES) was devised, encompassing career readiness, employability skills, personality, interests, and aptitude. However, initial versions faced challenges in accurately assessing students aged 17-25. This study addresses this age group’s scarcity of visual-spatial items, developing a 30-item instrument called MAT-D (VS) to measure various spatial skills and enhance their real-world relevance in aptitude testing. Confirmatory factor analysis and Rasch analysis on 149 undergraduates demonstrated good model fit and reliability. Subsequent refinements, involving 203 undergraduates, exhibited improved reliability and model fit. Empirical support for Carroll’s three-factor theory in an Asian context emerged. The study proposes further revisions, norm establishment, and application of item response theory models for continued enhancement. The need for further studies underscores the commitment to ensuring that the newly developed tests are meaningful and applicable to actual career contexts in Asia. Despite the focus on test development, the goal remains to produce assessments that effectively inform career guidance and decision-making processes.

Keywords:  Aptitude testing, visual-spatial aptitudes, career guidance, confirmatory factor analysis, Rasch analysis