Supporting the Key Influencers on Young People's Career Development

Mixed method research methodology will be utilised for the purposes of this study. A combination of quantitative, large scale secondary data, and qualitative, primary data collected through interviews, will be analysed. This type of methodology will allow for an in-depth analysis of issues faced by the key influencers on young people's career development, as well as young adults' reasons for trusting certain advisors more than others.
Secondary data will be collected from national and international charters for improving young peoples' career development; such as 'The September Guarantee' in England, Education and Youth Transitions (EYT) in England, Wales and Scotland; Youth Cohort Studies in England and Wales; OECD, PISA and HESA international and national reports; and governmental pages. Wide range of demographics will be explored highlighting any apparent issues or gaps in career development options and opportunities presented to young adults when controlling for their gender, economic status, location, educational attainment, ethnicity, immigration status and other demographical information. Variables are expected to be mostly categorical, thus regression analyses, as well as cross tabulations of relevant variable categories will be central to the analysis of investigated datasets. Specific tests will be informed by theories of social stratification, division of labour, generational change in attitudes (obtained from BSA reports) and historical economical change affecting employment (i.e. financial crashes and recessions).
The aforementioned analyses of quantitative datasets will provide a contextual framework for primary qualitative data collection, integral to this project. Semi structured interviews and questionnaires will be conducted with approximately 150 young adults and 45 key influencers on young adults' career development (professionals, parents, peers, educators, etc.). Participants will be recruited from various settings such as schools, youth projects, sports teams and volunteer organisations in central Scotland.
Interviews will focus on investigating ego-nets of young adults and social networks utilised, when choosing primary guidance sources and trusted advisors. Additionally, the identified key informers would be questioned on their personal motivations in supporting career development of young adults as well as any issues faced during guidance sessions.
Furthermore, interviewing both the key informers and young adults, will allow to investigate generational change in knowledge and attitudes towards future prospects of recent graduates.