High school students’ perceptions of professional future: results of the application of the sentence completion method
The article focuses on the peculiarities of the professional self-determination of Ukrainian high school students in a risk society and a liquid modernity characterised by uncertainty, social instability and transformation in the field of education and labour. The study is based on empirical data from the national online survey ‘High School Student – 2024’ (n = 2043). The article analyses the results of using the sentence completion method in the survey, which enabled the capture of projective, emotionally charged aspects and revelation of the deep perceptions of students on their professional future. The systematization and analysis of the answers revealed that the key values in the profession for high school students are financial stability, emotional satisfaction from work, professional development, and psychological safety, as well as autonomy and flexibility as requirements for modern professional life. It is demonstrated that a significant proportion of young people perceive their professional future as a space of variability, and are ready to requalify in case of failure, which indicates the adaptive potential of students in response to the instability of the social context. At the same time, a high level of emotional stress, uncertainty, doubt and anxiety in the process of choosing a profession was recorded, indicating the psychological complexity of this process. Analysing the continuation of incomplete sentences given to high school students made it possible to highlight both elements of professional identity and barriers to professional self-determination, including cognitive overload, lack of career guidance support, and the impact of the military situation. The study found that young people consider their professional choice as an individual act that is not tied to family expectations, which confirms the existing trend of individualisation. The results of the study have practical implications for the development of tools to support professional self-determination of young people, in particular in educational policy, psychological services and career guidance programmes. The conclusions demonstrate the need for a deeper understanding of professional identity as a dynamic and emotionally charged process in times of crisis, as well as the need to develop sensitive research approaches to analyzing the subjective dimension of professional choice.
Rapun, K.V., Vasylenko, O.M. (2022). Professional self-determination of high school students as a psychological and pedagogical problem. Scientific Search of Young Researchers, (2), 163-168 [in Ukrainian]
Kryvobok, A.S. (2022). Theoretical aspects of professional self-determination of high school students. Psychological and Pedagogical Aspects of Adult Education in the System of Lifelong Learning, materials of the 8th International Scientific and Practical Internet Conference (Bila Tserkva, December 15, 2022), 111-115 [in Ukrainian]
Balika, M. (2022). Psychological aspects of professional self-determination of modern high school students. Scientia, December 2, 118-120 [in Ukrainian]
Kozhina, S.V., Razmolochkova, I.V. (2022). Professionalization of high school students: psychosocial aspect. Modern Realities and Prospects for the Social Education of the Individual in Various Social Institutions, materials of the All-Ukrainian Scientific and Practical Conference (Kharkiv, October 21, 2022) [in Ukrainian]
Polishchuk, O.R. (2022). Preparation of high school students for entering higher education institutions: a socio-psychological dimension. Kyiv: FOP Yamchynskyi O.V. [in Ukrainian]
Kush, O.S., Rakytyna, D.M. (2024). Socio-psychological determinants of the formation of professional intentions of high school students. In V.O. Molyako (Ed.), Psychological Problems of Creativity: Proceedings of the XXIV International Scientific Psychological Conference (Kyiv, June 24, 2024) (pp. 148-153). Kyiv: H.S. Kostiuk Institute of Psychology of the National Academy of Educational Sciences of Ukraine [in Ukrainian]
Brovchenko, A.K. (2023). Organization of career guidance for high school students with psychophysical development disorders aimed at supporting their professional self-determination. In I.V. Zhukova, Ye.O. Romanenko (Eds.), Modern Aspects of Science Modernization: State, Problems, Development Trends: Proceedings of the XXX International Scientific and Practical Conference (Hamburg, March 7, 2023). Hamburg: NGO “VADND” [in Ukrainian]
Kryvobok, A.S. (2023). Professional self-determination of high school students as a prerequisite for successful professional self-realization. In V.S. Kulishov, I.V. Kucherak, Yu.S. Herasymenko, A.M. Lukiianchuk (Eds.), Socio-Educational Dominants of the Professional Training of a Modern Competent Specialist: Proceedings of the II All-Ukrainian Student Scientific and Practical Conference (Bila Tserkva, May 18, 2023) (pp. 335-339). Bila Tserkva: BINPO DZZVO “UMO” of the NAES of Ukraine [in Ukrainian]
Honchar, L.V. (2024). Readiness of student youth for professional self-determination and self-development. Perspectives and Innovations in Science. Series “Pedagogy”, 1 (35), 93-99 [in Ukrainian]
Volosevych, I., Kohut, I., Zherobiokina, T., Nazarenko, Yu. (2023). The impact of war on youth in Ukraine. Kyiv: Cedos. URL: https://cedos.org.ua/researches/vpliv-vijni-na-molod-v-ukrayini/ [in Ukrainian]
Siryі, Ye. (2023). Resource potential of youth in the optimal choice of professional employment (considering today’s social challenges). Economics. Management. Innovations. Series: Economic Sciences, 1 (32) [in Ukrainian]
Kharitonova, T. (2024). Profile education abroad and in Ukraine: challenges and opportunities for the adaptation of high school students. In L. Kalashnikova (Ed.), Information Society and Nature: Vectors of Interaction: Proceedings of the VIII International Scientific and Practical Conference (Kryvyi Rih, November 21–22, 2024) (pp. 129-132). Kyiv: Karavela [in Ukrainian]
USAID “Dream and Act” Platform. (n.d.). Ukrainian Youth Today. URL: https://mriemotadiemorazom.org/ukrainian-youth-today [in Ukrainian]
Beck, U., Ritter, M. (1992). Risk Society: Towards a New Modernity. Sage Publications.
Bauman, Z. (2001). The individualized society. Cambridge: Polity Press.
Bauman, Z. (2000). Liquid modernity. Cambridge: Malden, MA: Polity Press; Blackwell.
Batool, S.S., Ghayas, S. (2020). Process of career identity formation among adolescents: components and factors. Heliyon, 6, 9.
Deineko, O.O. (2012). Socio-professional plans of modern Ukrainian students in the context of risk strategies: prospects for empirical research. Visnyk of V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, 993, 168-175 [in Ukrainian]
Deineko, O.O. (2013). Professional risks of modern students as a component of a risk society: Risks peculiarities of the professional existence phases. Ukr. socìum – Ukrainian Society, 4 (47), 26-38 [in Ukrainian]
Bielova, L.O. (2018). Learning motivation as a risk factor of higher education. Novyi Collegium, 2, 7-12 [in Ukrainian]
Akosah-Twumasi, P., Emeto, T.I., Lindsay, D., Tsey, K., Malau-Aduli, B.S. (2018). A systematic review of factors that influence youths career choices – the role of culture. Frontiers in Education, 3, 58.
Villacís, J.L., Naval, C., De la Fuente, J. (2023). Character strengths, moral motivation and vocational identity in adolescents and young adults: a scoping review. Current Psychology, 42, 23448-23463.
Sokurianska, L.H. (2021). Online education as a social and individual problem. Visnyk of the Lviv University. Sociological Series, 15, 4-18 [in Ukrainian]
Bieliaeva, V. (2021). Online education as a new challenge for the risk society. In All-Ukrainian Scientific Conference “Ukraine as a Risk Society” (Dnipro, April 23, 2021) (pp. 6-8). Dnipro: Format A+ Publishing House [in Ukrainian]
Stetsiv, I.S., Stetsiv, I.I., Kozyk, V.V., Bidiuk, L. (2020). Employment problems in crisis conditions and ways to solve them. Management and Entrepreneurship in Ukraine: Stages of Formation and Development Problems, 2 (2), 204-211 [in Ukrainian]
Chepurko, H. (2022). The labor market of Ukraine: current challenges and risks. Sociology: Theory, Methods, Marketing, 3, 121-148 [in Ukrainian]
Watson, R.I. (1978). The Sentence Completion Method. In B.B. Wolman (Eds.), Clinical Diagnosis of Mental Disorders (pp. 255-279). Boston, MA: Springer.
Sknar, O. (2017). Experience of using the projective incomplete sentences technique to study civic and national self-identification of youth. Art-Therapy Space, 1 (21), 75-95 [in Ukrainian]