RELIABILITY OF SELF-ASSESSMENT QUESTIONNAIRES: DO ARCHITECTURE POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS OVERESTIMATE THEIR EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS? FEEDBACK FROM GRADUATES AND EMPLOYERS

Abstract

This study examines the reliability of 94 self-assessed questionnaires employing architecture postgraduates and employers via t-tests and descriptive statistics. This is important as many studies employ self-assessment questionnaires with likert-scale responses to assess employability skills in non-technical disciplines such as design and the humanities. However, first-degree graduates often overestimate their skills in comparison with results from employers. Results reveal no significant differences between postgraduates and their employers for generic (t =-1.34, p =0.183) and professional (t=1.38, p = 0.17) skills and competencies. The study concludes that questionnaires self-assessed by postgraduate students are reliable for assessing employability potentials of architecture graduates.