Date Presented 04/03/2025
Vocational Fit Assessment (VFA) subscales are unidimensional and have good to excellent internal consistency. Strong factor loadings suggest that VFA items strongly relate to each domain.
Primary Author and Speaker: Andrew Persch
Additional Authors and Speakers: Dennis Sullivan Cleary, Beth Pfeiffer, Jessica M. Kramer
Contributing Authors: Cristina Parsons, Mutrik Alajmi, Patricia Davies, James Graham, Margaret Busch
PURPOSE: The Vocational Fit Assessment (VFA) is a reliable and valid measure of work-related adaptive behavior for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in transition to employment. It is used in special education and vocational rehabilitation and contributes to decision-making in customized integrated employment. This purpose of this study was to examine VFA subscale dimensionality and internal reliability in young adults with intellectual disabilities (ID).
DESIGN/METHOD: A cross-sectional survey of young adults with ID, aged 18-26, with ID and a Partner Reporter (e.g., parent, teacher) that knows them well. Both participated in the informed consent process, which included capacity to consent. The survey included a demographic questionnaire and the VFA-Worker, which is rated using a three-point scale (2-high ability, 1-some ability, 0-low ability). There are 108 items distributed among 10 subscales. Dimensionality was established using Latent Parallel Analysis and Ordinal Exploratory Factor Analysis. Internal consistency was calculated using with Cronbach’s alpha.
RESULTS: Three-hundred nineteen (N = 319) dyads (i.e., adult with ID and Partner Reporter) completed the VFA-Worker. All subscales maintained unidimensionality and strong positive factor loadings greater than 0.49. Internal consistency ranged from 0.873-0.969.
CONCLUSION: This psychometric analysis provides new data that support the reliability and validity of the VFA. Latent Parallel Analysis and Ordinal Exploratory Factor Analysis supported the hypothesis that VFA subscales are unidimensional and that items are strongly associated with subscale constructs. Similarly, all subscales demonstrated high to excellent internal consistency. These data further support the use of the VFA with young adults (18-26) with intellectual disabilities in transition to employment. Knowledge translation is accomplished using a custom web-app (VocFit.com).
References
Persch, A. C., Cleary, D. S., Rutkowski, S., Malone, H. C., Darragh, A. R., & Case-Smith, J. D. (2015). Current practices in job matching for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Journal of Vocational Rehabilitation, 43(3), 259–273. https://doi.org/10.3233/JVR-150774
Persch, A. C., Gugiu, P. C., Onate, J. A., & Cleary, D. S. (2015). Development and psychometric evaluation of the Vocational Fit Assessment. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 69(6), 6906180080. http://dx.doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2015.019455
Gugiu, P. C., Case-Smith, J. D., Cleary, D. S., & Persch, A. C. (2015). Latent parallel analysis and ordinal exploratory factor analysis of the Vocational Fit Assessment. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 69(Suppl. 1):6911500106p1. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2015.69S1-PO5092.
