The investigation of adolescents' conception of work

The objective of this research is to develop an inventory for examination of conception of work of adolescents, and to determine whether school type, class level, gender, age, career maturity, parental attitudes, and vocational personality type are predictors of concept of work or not.The research group comprises 1402 students of which 598 students are male, and 804 students are female. Data collection means, used in the research, include conception of work inventory ? ÇAE- developed for this research, career maturity scale (Kuzgun and Bacanlı, 2005), parental attitudes scale (Kuzgun and Eldeleklioğlu, 2005) and self directed search scale (Balkıs, 2004). In data analysis, multiple linear regression analysis has been implemented.Findings, obtained from validity and reliability study of ÇAE, support the fact that ÇAE has a valid and reliable structure, and it is a tool that can be used for determination of conception of work of adolescents.Conclusions, obtained within the scope of the research, are summarized below:1. School type, class level, sex, age, career maturity, parental attitudes and vocational personality types of adolescents have explained 23 % of variance related to concept of work. Career maturity is the most powerful predictor of conception of work among these variances.2. School type, class level, sex, age, career maturity, parental attitudes and vocational personality types of adolescents have explained 13 % of the variance related to conception of work survival ? power, and protective-demandant parental attitude is the most powerful predictor of conception of work survival ? power among these variances.3. School type, class level, sex, age, career maturity, parental attitudes and vocational personality types of adolescents have explained 26 % of the variance related to conception of work self determination, and career maturity is the most powerful predictor of conception of work self determination among these variances.These findings are discussed within the framework of vocational guidance and consultancy and suggestions are put forth for to implementers and researchers on the basis of the said findings.Key words: Conception of work, career maturity, parental attitudes, vocational personality types