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The outcomes of a mixed-methods, innovative group life design intervention with unemployed youths

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Abstract

This article reports on an innovative life design intervention in a developing country context. A group of 31 unemployed youths were selected purposively to participate in the study. A mixed-methods design was adopted and an integrative qualitative-quantitative approach employed to construct and analyse the data. The Maree Career Matrix was used to assess participants’ career interests while the Career Interest Profile was used to elicit their career-life stories. The Career Adapt-Abilities Scale was used for pre-test and post-test assessment. The intervention prompted change in the participants’ career lives, improved their self-understanding, and broadened their career-life perspectives.

Résumé

Les résultats d'une intervention de groupe innovante en Life Design auprès de jeunes sans emploi, basée sur une méthode mixte

Cet article rend compte d'une intervention innovante en Life Design dans le contexte d'un pays en développement. Un groupe de 31 jeunes sans emploi a été sélectionné pour participer à l'étude. Une méthode mixte explicative a été adoptée et une approche qualitative-quantitative intégrative a été employée pour construire et analyser les données. La Matrice des Carrières de Maree a été utilisée pour évaluer les intérêts professionnels des participants, tandis que le profil d'intérêts professionnels a été utilisé pour obtenir des informations sur leur vie professionnelle. L'échelle d ‘adaptabilité de carrière a été utilisée pour l'évaluation pré-test et post-test. L'intervention a encouragé des changements dans la vie professionnelle des participants, a amélioré leur compréhension de soi et a élargi leurs perspectives de vie professionnelle.

Zusammenfassung

Die Ergebnisse einer innovativen mixed method Life Design Gruppenintervention mit arbeitslosen Jugendlichen

Dieser Artikel berichtet über eine innovative Life Design Intervention im Kontext eines Entwicklungslandes. Eine Gruppe von 31 arbeitslosen Jugendlichen wurde gezielt für die Teilnahme an der Studie ausgewählt. Es wurde ein erklärendes Mixed-Method-Design angewandt und ein integrativer qualitativ-quantitativer Ansatz zur Erhebung und Analyse der Daten verwendet. Die Maree Career Matrix wurde verwendet, um die Karriereinteressen der Teilnehmenden zu bewerten, während das Career-Interest-Profile verwendet wurde, um ihre Berufsbiografien zu erheben. Die Career-Adapt-Abilities-Scale wurde für die Bewertung vor und nach dem Test verwendet. Die Intervention führte zu Veränderungen in der beruflichen Laufbahn der Teilnehmenden, verbesserte ihre Selbstkenntnis und erweiterte ihre beruflichen Perspektiven.

Resumen

Resultados de una intervención grupal innovadora de diseño de la vida basada en métodos mixtos con jóvenes desempleados

En este artículo se presentan los resultados encontrados sobre una intervención innovadora de diseño de la vida en el contexto de un país en desarrollo. Un grupo de 31 jóvenes desempleados fue seleccionado de modo intencional para participar en el estudio. Se adoptó un diseño explicativo de métodos mixtos y se empleó un enfoque integrador cualitativo-cuantitativo para construir y analizar los datos. Se utilizó el instrumento Matriz de la Carrera de Maree con el fin de evaluar los intereses profesionales de los participantes, mientras que el instrumento Perfil de Interés de la Carrera se usó para conocer sus historias de vida profesional. Por otro lado, se utilizó la Escala de Habilidades de Adaptación de Carrera para la evaluación previa (pre-test) y posterior a la intervención (post-test). La intervención provocó un cambio en la vida profesional de los participantes, mejoró su autocomprensión y amplió sus perspectivas de vida profesional.

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Acknowledgements

I thank the participants for taking part in the research. I thank Tim Steward for his scrutiny of the text. No financial support was received for the research.

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  1. Department of Educational Psychology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

    Jacobus G. Maree

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The research was approved by the University of Pretoria’s Institutional Review Board and conducted in Hazyview. I carefully explained the goal of the research to the participants and obtained their informed consent. The participants’ and my roles and rights in the research were clarified, and counselling services were provided to any participants who requested them.

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Maree, J.G. The outcomes of a mixed-methods, innovative group life design intervention with unemployed youths. Int J Educ Vocat Guidance 22, 667–687 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10775-021-09514-y

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