Obukhova, Kuznetsova. [Analysis of personal and professional self-determination of schoolchildren in the conditions of pre-profile training and profile education]

Abstract:
The study considers the problem of high school students` choice of profile classes during middle and high school. The study, which was conducted with the participation of 315 adolescents (7—11 grades, Moscow schools) allowed to identify the following features: the values of boys and girls differ from each other; the motives for choosing profile classes can be different (include approval from parents, teachers, abilities, etc.). Most often the motivational structure is dominated by motives related to interests, orientation to parents, teachers, classmates, prestige of the profession and success/failure ratio. The authors recommend using not only tests, but also metaphorical tools (the parable "Three Wise Men") to study schoolchildren`s personality. Such tools along with other projective tools (essays) will help to better understand the schoolchild`s personality and assess the peculiarities of his/her time perspective. As shown in the study, the latter also plays a significant role in the process of choosing a class profile for further education.