Two cohorts of fifth form boys were followed through school into their first year out of school. An attempt was made to test Super's thesis that entry into a career is part of a developmental process. Super's writings provided the basis for the identification and classification of indices of vocational maturity in the fifth form. The thesis postulated that the efficiency of these indices in predicting vocational adjustment, in the first year out of school, provided a crucial test of Super's developmental theory. Forward regression, a variation of stepwise regression, was used to identify efficient predictors. In general, it was not possible to predict adjustment in the first year of a career from the proposed indices of vocational maturity. It was possible to predict, with a fair degree of accuracy, the level of occupational attainment from the boys' educational attainment and aspirations. The results raise some doubts about the tenability of a developmental theory, if the goal is vocational adjustment. The findings are discussed within the context of an analysis of the nature of developmental theories in the social sciences.

The main purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between vocational maturity and hopelessness among female and male twelfth grade students. The sample of the present study was composed of 523 (341 female, 182 male) twelfth grade students attending four high schools in Ankara and in izmir. The data were gathered using the Vocational Maturity Scale, the Beck Hopelessness Scale and a demographic information form. The overall mean and standard deviation were 145.68 and 18.44 for vocational maturity scale / 5.41 and 5.18 for hopelessness scale of 523 twelfth grade students. It was found that there was a negatively significant correlation between the hopelessness and vocational maturity. Moreover, findings related to correlation between vocational maturity and hopelessness seperately in female and male students also indicated that there were negatively significant correlations between vocational maturity and hopelessness in females and males.

Η εξελικτική πορεία του μαθητικού πληθυσμού της χώρας όσον αφορά στην επαγγελματική του ανάπτυξη βρίσκεται σε ένα κομβικό σημείο στην ηλικία των 14 περίπου χρόνων καθώς το αμέσως επόμενο χρονικό διάστημα ο μαθητής καλείται να λάβει αποφάσεις για την εκπαιδευτική και επαγγελματική του πορεία. Η «επαγγελματική ωριμότητα» περιγράφει και προσδιορίζει το βαθμό της επαγγελματικής ανάπτυξης του ατόμου και έχουν διερευνηθεί, σε διεθνές κυρίως επίπεδο, παράγοντες οι οποίοι τη διαμορφώνουν. Η παρούσα ερευνητική εργασία έχει ως στόχο τη διερεύνηση της σχέσης της επαγγελματικής ωριμότητας με τη σχολική επίδοση μαθητών της Γ’ Γυμνασίου καθώς και με την κοινωνικοοικονομική κατάσταση των γονέων τους, δυο παράγοντες οι οποίοι αφενός δεν έχουν διερευνηθεί επαρκώς και αφετέρου τα ευρήματα προηγούμενων ερευνών είναι αντικρουόμενα. Το δείγμα αποτελείται από 189 μαθητές και μαθήτριες της Γ’ Γυμνασίου και τα δεδομένα της έρευνας συλλέχθηκαν με χρήση της Κλίμακας Επαγγελματικής Εξέλιξης (ΚΕΕ) σε συνδυασμό με κάποιες, δημογραφικού τύπου, ερωτήσεις. Με τη βοήθεια του συντελεστή συσχέτισης ρ-Spearman έγιναν οι αναλύσεις. Τα αποτελέσματα έδειξαν συνάφεια ορισμένων διαστάσεων της επαγγελματικής ωριμότητας κυρίως με τη σχολική επίδοση των μαθητών. Η εργασιακή κατάσταση των γονέων αφήνει ανεπηρέαστη την επαγγελματική ωριμότητα, ενώ το μορφωτικό επίπεδό τους φαίνεται να συσχετίζεται ελάχιστα, αλλά στατιστικώς σημαντικά, τόσο με την κλίμακα «πληροφόρηση» όσο και την κλίμακα «αναζήτηση πληροφοριών» της ΚΕΕ. / Vocational development of Greek pupil population is in a nodal point at the age of 14, after which the students have to make crucial decisions regarding their educational and vocational future. The term “Vocational maturity” is used to describe and determine the degree of vocational development of an individual, and its formative factors have been investigated, mostly in international level. This study investigates the relation between the vocational maturity of students at the 3rd class of secondary school in Greece (Gymnasio) and their school performance, as well as the socioeconomic level of their parents. This study focuses on those two formative factors of vocational maturity for two reasons: firstly because they have not been investigated adequately so far, and secondly because the existing findings from previous studies are conflicting. The sample used in this study consists of 189 students of the 3 rd class of “Gymnasio” and the data were collected using the Scale of Vocational Development in combination with some demographic questions. For the analysis, the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient (Spearman’s ρ) was used. The results indicated that there is a moderate correlation between some dimensions of vocational maturity and the school performance of the questioned students. On the contrary, their vocational maturity appears unaffected by their parents’ professional status, while their parents’ educational level correlates slightly with the dimensions “pliroforisi” (the equivalent of dimension World of Work Information-WW of Supers’ CDI-s form) and “anazitisi plirophorion” (the equivalent of dimension Career Exploration-CE of Supers’ CDI-s form) of the Scale of Vocational Development.

Cette thèse traite des problématiques liées à la formation et à l’orientation de la personne durant son parcours de vie à travers la notion de la maturité et une recherche psychologique associant à ce parcours un effort scientifique. La vie de chacun étant, en effet, « une histoire jalonnée » de plusieurs transitions qui marquent l’évolution individuelle, la thèse s’est appesantie sur deux concepts clés et indispensables dans la formation, la prise de décision et l’orientation des individus : la maturité et la transition ; la maturité en tant qu’état préparatoire à la prise de décision en matière de formation et d’emploi et la transition en tant qu’événement et processus développemental qui transforme la vie, les rôles, les relations, les habitudes, les représentations de la personne. L’imbrication de ces deux concepts à chaque stade de développement permet aux individus de s’ouvrir au monde des significations suivant les différentes pratiques d’aides et stratégies facilitant l’appropriation et la constitution d’un répertoire des ressources en prévision des éventuelles orientations à court, moyen et long terme. La notion de la maturité m’a permis de mener une enquête grâce à un questionnaire qui décrit trois types d’informations (connaissance du monde professionnel, connaissance des formations et connaissance de professions), à l’aide de trois processus (exploration, décision et planification). Le but de cette étude est de rechercher des créneaux, des stratégies permettant aux jeunes gabonais de trouver des solutions les aidant à s’ouvrir et à s’intéresser à l’information grâce à l’application des nouvelles pratiques d’aides à l’orientation dans le cadre du développement de la notion de la maturité vocationnelle. En conclusion, dans cette thèse de doctorat, deux notions m’ont marqué : celle de la maturité et celle de la transition qui combinent leurs influences pour permettre la construction et le développement du soi et des identités des adolescents et des adultes tout au long de leur existence. A la fin de cette étude, l’actualité et la centralité de ces deux concepts me paraissent évidentes. / This thesis addresses issues related to training and orientation of a person during their life through the notion of maturity and psychological research involving this term scientific effort. Everyone’s life, is indeed, “a story marked” by several transition that mark the individual evolution, the theory has fallen heavily on two key and essential in training, decision making and directory of individuals: maturity and transition; maturity as prior preparation for decision making regarding training and employment and transition as an event and development process that transforms the lives, roles, relationship, habits, representation of person. The interweaving of these two concepts at each stage of development enables people to embrace the world of meaning accord according to different aid practices and strategies to facilitate the ownership and creation of a directory of resources forecasts of possible orientation shot, medium and long term. Notion of maturity allowed me to conduct a survey using a questionnaire shat describes three types of information (knowledge of the business word, knowledge of occupations) using three processes (exploration, decision making and planning). The purpose of this study is to find niches, strategies to enable you Gabonese to find solutions helping to open up and look at information through the of vocational maturity. In addition to this, into this doctoral thesis I have marked two notions: that of the maturity and the transition that combines to allow the construction and development of self identity of adolescents and adults throughout their existence. At the end of the current study of centrality ot these two concepts seem obvious.

According to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), innovation that accompanies careers in science, technology engineering, and math (STEM) create a driving force in the economy and the creation of jobs, yet many positions remain open due to the lack of qualified individuals to fill them (NAS, 2011). Continuing research and innovation proves to be important, yet not enough students graduate with STEM degrees and enter into STEM careers. Career planning courses for undergraduate students increase student confidence about their abilities to make career decisions (Grier-Reed & Skaar, 2010: Scott & Ciani 2008). Vocational maturity and career decision making skills also improve as a result of these courses (Reese & Miller, 2006; Scott & Ciani, 2008). Although research provides evidence of the impact of career planning courses that are specific to certain disciplines (Heffner, Macera & Cohen, 2006), the need for research exists on examining the role career planning courses have in STEM recruitment and retention. This study aimed to investigate the influence of career development intervention in STEM recruitment and retention efforts by examining career decidedness, career thoughts and vocational maturity. Furthermore, the influence of the class was examined by using demographics such as gender, ethnicity, SAT scores, and algebra math placements scores. The Career Development Inventory (CDI) and Career Thoughts Inventory (CTI) provided measures of career thoughts, career decidedness and vocational maturity for this study. The results provided clarity as to the influence of the career planning course. Vocational maturity and career decidedness increase by the end of the career planning course and negative career thoughts decreased. Implications of the findings include counselor education, career development, practice and future research. In a time when billions of dollars are spent on STEM initiative, the iv current study provided an economically viable career development STEM initiative. The research reveals millions are dollars invested into updating lab equipment, purchasing new materials for students, and training teachers. The current study utilized a career planning course allowing students to explore their likes, dislikes, and abilities and how the aforementioned are connected to career interests. This study also provides insight into how the STEM effort can more specifically recruit students who will excel in STEM disciplines.

A preparação dos jovens para o trabalho é preocupação mundial, tendo desencadeado o movimento de Educação para a Carreira em países desenvolvidos. Mas no Brasil não há registros dessa prática, embora relatos de experiência junto a adolescentes em situação de desvantagem socioeconômica aproximem-se de seus propósitos, na escola pública ou outros contextos educativos, destacando-se a Aprendizagem Profissional. Nesses estudos evidencia-se a apatia dos jovens quanto a perspectivas de futuro e planejamento da carreira, possivelmente relacionada a crenças de autoeficácia negativas; mas não se registra avaliação sistemática dessa realidade nem dos resultados das intervenções. Diante dessas lacunas, foram objetivos do presente trabalho: (a) verificar evidências de validade e precisão de instrumentos de medida adaptados para uso nesse contexto, especificamente o Questionário de Educação à Carreira QEC e o Inventário de Autoeficácia no Desenvolvimento da Carreira CD-SEI; e (b) analisar a realidade socioprofissional de uma amostra de adolescentes aprendizes, identificando possíveis efeitos de variáveis demográficas, acadêmicas e da carreira em sua maturidade vocacional e autoeficácia. Para adaptação do QEC, foi realizada a análise dos itens junto a grupo de aprendizes e a dois comitês de especialistas (profissionais vinculados à Aprendizagem Profissional e juízes peritos em Orientação Profissional-OP), seguida de ensaio experimental. Já para adaptação do CD-SEI, foram realizadas a tradução, retradução, análise dos itens, validação de conteúdo por juízes especializados em OP e ensaio experimental. A amostra foi composta por 470 adolescentes, de 14 a 20 anos, de ambos os sexos, a maioria cursando o ensino médio público, vinculados a instituições para qualificação/inserção profissional de jovens de baixa renda. Foram realizadas análises fatoriais, testes de confiabilidade e de correlação, estatísticas descritivas e testes de comparação entre grupos. Os resultados evidenciaram boas qualidades psicométricas dos instrumentos (validade e precisão), apesar da estrutura fatorial do CD-SEI não se confirmar, e nortearam uma proposta alternativa para apuração dos escores. Quanto aos aprendizes, identificou-se que a maioria buscou Aprendizagem Profissional por influência da família ou vontade própria, visando oportunidade de emprego ou qualificação, com expectativas de melhores oportunidades futuras de trabalho, o que os mantém vinculados às instituições formadoras. Dentre os jovens, 25,3% relataram experiências de trabalho anteriores ao ingresso na Aprendizagem Profissional, sendo que 66,4% da amostra contribui no custeio das despesas domésticas dispondo do salário parcial ou integralmente. Os dados demonstram eficácia dos serviços na inserção profissional e os aprendizes apontam alta satisfação com a experiência e as instituições. A maturidade e a autoeficácia de carreira da amostra revelaram-se elevadas e a comparação de grupos evidenciou diferenças significativas, mais notadamente em favor daqueles que tornaram-se aprendizes por livre vontade, planejavam qualificar-se em nível técnico e/ou superior e apresentavam melhor desempenho escolar. Considerou-se os instrumentos adequados para usos futuros, seja no diagnóstico inicial e direcionamento das intervenções ou na avaliação de resultados, diante das mudanças de apuração sugeridas. Além disso, o contexto da Aprendizagem Profissional mostrou-se eficaz enquanto iniciação no trabalho e propício à Educação para a Carreira, realidade que merece atenção de pesquisadores e formuladores de políticas públicas em educação, trabalho e carreira. / The preparation of young people for working is a worldwide concern, having led to the movement of Career Education in developed countries. However, in Brazil there are no records of this practice, reports of experience with adolescents from disadvantaged socioeconomic draw closer to their purpose in the public school or other educational settings, highlighting the Professional Learning. In these studies it is evident the apathy of young people regarding the future prospects and career planning, possibly related to negative self-efficacy beliefs, but the systematic evaluation of neither this scenario nor of the results of interventions is on record. Considering these gaps, the objectives of this study were: (a) to verify the validity and precision of measuring instruments adapted for use in this context, specifically the Career Education Questionnaire - QEC and Career Development Self-Efficacy Inventory - CD-SEI; and, (b) analyze the socio-professional reality of a set of young apprentices, identifying the possible demographic, academic and career variations effects in their vocational maturity and self-efficacy. To adapt the QEC an analysis of the items was performed with the group of apprentices and two committees of experts (professionals linked to Professional Learning and judges who are experts in Vocational Guidance - VG), followed by an experimental trial. As for adaptation of CD-SEI were performed translation, back translation, item analysis, content validation by judges specialized in VG and an experimental trial. The sample consisted of 470 adolescents, ranging from 14 to 20 years old, both sexes, the majority attending high school at public institutions linked to the qualification / professional integration of young people with low incomes. Factor analyzes were conducted, reliability testing and correlation, descriptive statistics and comparison tests among groups. The results showed good psychometric properties of the instruments (validity and reliability), even though the factor structure of the CD-SEI was not confirmed, and guided an alternative proposal to calculate the scores. In relation to the apprentices, it showed that most of them sought Apprenticeship by family influence or self-will, seeking employment opportunities or qualification, expectations of better opportunities for future work, which keeps them tied up to educational institutions. Among young people, 25.3% reported work experiences prior to entering the Professional Learning, and 66.4% of the sample contributes to defray expenses of the household providing partial or full salary. The data demonstrate the effectiveness of the service concerning the employability and apprentices indicate high satisfaction with the experience and institutions. The maturity and self-efficacy career sample were high and the comparison between the groups showed significant differences, most notably in favor of those who become apprentices by free will, planned to qualify for technical and / or higher education and had better school performance. The instruments were considered appropriated for future use, either as an initial diagnosis and targeting of interventions or as the evaluation of results considering the suggested polling changes. Moreover, the context of the Professional Learning was effective as initiation for working and conducive to Career Education, a reality that deserves attention from researchers and public policies makers in education, work and career areas.

A preparação dos jovens para o trabalho é preocupação mundial, tendo desencadeado o movimento de Educação para a Carreira em países desenvolvidos. Mas no Brasil não há registros dessa prática, embora relatos de experiência junto a adolescentes em situação de desvantagem socioeconômica aproximem-se de seus propósitos, na escola pública ou outros contextos educativos, destacando-se a Aprendizagem Profissional. Nesses estudos evidencia-se a apatia dos jovens quanto a perspectivas de futuro e planejamento da carreira, possivelmente relacionada a crenças de autoeficácia negativas; mas não se registra avaliação sistemática dessa realidade nem dos resultados das intervenções. Diante dessas lacunas, foram objetivos do presente trabalho: (a) verificar evidências de validade e precisão de instrumentos de medida adaptados para uso nesse contexto, especificamente o Questionário de Educação à Carreira QEC e o Inventário de Autoeficácia no Desenvolvimento da Carreira CD-SEI; e (b) analisar a realidade socioprofissional de uma amostra de adolescentes aprendizes, identificando possíveis efeitos de variáveis demográficas, acadêmicas e da carreira em sua maturidade vocacional e autoeficácia. Para adaptação do QEC, foi realizada a análise dos itens junto a grupo de aprendizes e a dois comitês de especialistas (profissionais vinculados à Aprendizagem Profissional e juízes peritos em Orientação Profissional-OP), seguida de ensaio experimental. Já para adaptação do CD-SEI, foram realizadas a tradução, retradução, análise dos itens, validação de conteúdo por juízes especializados em OP e ensaio experimental. A amostra foi composta por 470 adolescentes, de 14 a 20 anos, de ambos os sexos, a maioria cursando o ensino médio público, vinculados a instituições para qualificação/inserção profissional de jovens de baixa renda. Foram realizadas análises fatoriais, testes de confiabilidade e de correlação, estatísticas descritivas e testes de comparação entre grupos. Os resultados evidenciaram boas qualidades psicométricas dos instrumentos (validade e precisão), apesar da estrutura fatorial do CD-SEI não se confirmar, e nortearam uma proposta alternativa para apuração dos escores. Quanto aos aprendizes, identificou-se que a maioria buscou Aprendizagem Profissional por influência da família ou vontade própria, visando oportunidade de emprego ou qualificação, com expectativas de melhores oportunidades futuras de trabalho, o que os mantém vinculados às instituições formadoras. Dentre os jovens, 25,3% relataram experiências de trabalho anteriores ao ingresso na Aprendizagem Profissional, sendo que 66,4% da amostra contribui no custeio das despesas domésticas dispondo do salário parcial ou integralmente. Os dados demonstram eficácia dos serviços na inserção profissional e os aprendizes apontam alta satisfação com a experiência e as instituições. A maturidade e a autoeficácia de carreira da amostra revelaram-se elevadas e a comparação de grupos evidenciou diferenças significativas, mais notadamente em favor daqueles que tornaram-se aprendizes por livre vontade, planejavam qualificar-se em nível técnico e/ou superior e apresentavam melhor desempenho escolar. Considerou-se os instrumentos adequados para usos futuros, seja no diagnóstico inicial e direcionamento das intervenções ou na avaliação de resultados, diante das mudanças de apuração sugeridas. Além disso, o contexto da Aprendizagem Profissional mostrou-se eficaz enquanto iniciação no trabalho e propício à Educação para a Carreira, realidade que merece atenção de pesquisadores e formuladores de políticas públicas em educação, trabalho e carreira. / The preparation of young people for working is a worldwide concern, having led to the movement of Career Education in developed countries. However, in Brazil there are no records of this practice, reports of experience with adolescents from disadvantaged socioeconomic draw closer to their purpose in the public school or other educational settings, highlighting the Professional Learning. In these studies it is evident the apathy of young people regarding the future prospects and career planning, possibly related to negative self-efficacy beliefs, but the systematic evaluation of neither this scenario nor of the results of interventions is on record. Considering these gaps, the objectives of this study were: (a) to verify the validity and precision of measuring instruments adapted for use in this context, specifically the Career Education Questionnaire - QEC and Career Development Self-Efficacy Inventory - CD-SEI; and, (b) analyze the socio-professional reality of a set of young apprentices, identifying the possible demographic, academic and career variations effects in their vocational maturity and self-efficacy. To adapt the QEC an analysis of the items was performed with the group of apprentices and two committees of experts (professionals linked to Professional Learning and judges who are experts in Vocational Guidance - VG), followed by an experimental trial. As for adaptation of CD-SEI were performed translation, back translation, item analysis, content validation by judges specialized in VG and an experimental trial. The sample consisted of 470 adolescents, ranging from 14 to 20 years old, both sexes, the majority attending high school at public institutions linked to the qualification / professional integration of young people with low incomes. Factor analyzes were conducted, reliability testing and correlation, descriptive statistics and comparison tests among groups. The results showed good psychometric properties of the instruments (validity and reliability), even though the factor structure of the CD-SEI was not confirmed, and guided an alternative proposal to calculate the scores. In relation to the apprentices, it showed that most of them sought Apprenticeship by family influence or self-will, seeking employment opportunities or qualification, expectations of better opportunities for future work, which keeps them tied up to educational institutions. Among young people, 25.3% reported work experiences prior to entering the Professional Learning, and 66.4% of the sample contributes to defray expenses of the household providing partial or full salary. The data demonstrate the effectiveness of the service concerning the employability and apprentices indicate high satisfaction with the experience and institutions. The maturity and self-efficacy career sample were high and the comparison between the groups showed significant differences, most notably in favor of those who become apprentices by free will, planned to qualify for technical and / or higher education and had better school performance. The instruments were considered appropriated for future use, either as an initial diagnosis and targeting of interventions or as the evaluation of results considering the suggested polling changes. Moreover, the context of the Professional Learning was effective as initiation for working and conducive to Career Education, a reality that deserves attention from researchers and public policies makers in education, work and career areas.

Diante das velozes transformações no mundo do trabalho em um contexto de instabilidade e incertezas na carreira, tornam-se imperativas iniciativas de políticas que despertem nos indivíduos a capacidade de gerenciar o seu próprio desenvolvimento profissional. Nesse contexto, estratégias de Educação para a Carreira podem colaborar no desenvolvimento de carreira dos indivíduos ao longo da vida. Visando levantar pistas para esse tipo de intervenção, o presente trabalho objetivou analisar interesses profissionais e maturidade vocacional de estudantes do ensino médio regular e técnico, em função da procedência escolar, sexo e nível socioeconômico familiar. Investigaram-se também as principais necessidades de Educação para a Carreira desses alunos e possíveis relações entre o Teste de Fotos de Profissões (BBT-Br) e o Questionário de Educação para a Carreira (QEC). Participaram da pesquisa 220 adolescentes, entre 16 e 20 anos, sendo 147 do sexo feminino e 73 do sexo masculino, provenientes do último ano de duas escolas públicas de ensino médio, uma regular e outra técnica, de uma cidade do interior do estado de São Paulo. Os instrumentos, a saber, o BBT-Br, o QEC, o questionário de identificação e o Critério de Classificação Econômica Brasil (CCEB) foram aplicados coletivamente em sala de aula. Os dados foram inseridos em bancos de dados e submetidos a testes de estatística descritiva e inferencial (t de student). Com relação à maturidade vocacional, não foram encontradas diferenças significativas em função do sexo, procedência escolar e nível socioeconômico. Em relação às necessidades de Educação para a Carreira, verificou-se que os alunos pareceram necessitar de mais informações sobre mercado de trabalho e algumas questões de pesquisa e conservação de emprego. As principais fontes de informação profissional são os pais e a internet. Discutiu-se a necessidade de incluir os pais nos programas de Educação para a Carreira e de desenvolver ferramentas na internet que forneçam informações profissionais relevantes. Outras fontes de informação profissional são menos utilizadas e futuras intervenções devem incentivar a busca por fontes mais variadas. Dentre as atividades que podem auxiliar no desenvolvimento de carreira, os resultados indicam que têm sido pouco exploradas. Com relação aos interesses profissionais, foram encontradas diferenças entre homens e mulheres que evidenciam questões de estereótipos de gênero. Entre as mulheres houve diferenças significativas nos índices de produtividade entre as alunas do ensino médio regular e do ensino técnico e a principal diferença foi a preferência dessas últimas pelo radical V possivelmente relacionada à escolha pela formação em carreira técnica. Para o sexo masculino também houve diferença no radical V na estrutura primária negativa e nos radicais W e Z com médias maiores entre os alunos do ensino médio regular. Não houve diferenças significativas dos interesses em função do nível socioeconômico. Foram encontradas relações entre os índices de produtividade do BBT-Br e o nível de maturidade. Alunos com maior maturidade realizaram mais escolhas positivas e menos escolhas negativas e neutras, denotando que o nível de maturidade influencia no processo de escolha do BBT-Br. Por fim, são sugeridas algumas pistas para auxiliar em intervenções em Educação para a Carreira. / Given the fast changes in the world of work in a context of instability and uncertainty in career, it becomes mandatory policy that initiatives stimulate individuals in their ability to manage their own professional development. In this context, strategies for Career Education can collaborate with career development of individuals throughout life. Aiming to discover clues to this type of intervention, the current study is focused on analysing professional interests and career maturity of students in regular secondary and technical education, in relation to their school of origin, sex and family socioeconomic status. Investigations were also carried out in regards to the main students needs of Career Education and possible relationships between Berufsbilder Test (BBT-Br/ Teste de Fotos de Profissões) and the Career Education Questionnaire (QEC/ Questionário de Educação para a Carreira). Participated in the survey 220 adolescents between the ages of 16 and 20, 147 females and 73 males, selected last year from two public high schools, one regular and another technical, based in a city in the state of São Paulo. The instruments, BBT-Br, QEC, the identification questionnaire and Brazil Economic Classification Criterion (CCEB/ Critério de Classificação Econômica Brasil) were applied collectively in the classroom. The data were entered into databases and subjected to descriptive and inferential statistics tests (t -student). With regard to vocational maturity, no significant differences by gender, socioeconomic status or school origin were found. To the needs of Career Education, it was found that students seemed to demand more information about the labor market, research issues and pursuing employment. The main sources of professional information are from parents and the internet. Therefore, the need to include parents in Career Education programs and to develop tools on the internet that provide relevant professional information was discussed. Other sources of professional information were less used and future interventions should encourage the search for more varied sources. The results indicated the activities that can assist in career development have been little explored. With respect to professional interests, differences between men and women are related to gender stereotypes. Among women there were significant differences in productivity levels between the students of the regular high school and technical education and the main difference was the preference of the technical students for the radical V, possibly related to their choice for technical careers. For males, there was also a difference in the radical V in the negative primary structure and the W and Z radicals with higher averages among students from the regular high school. There were no significant differences of interests depending on socioeconomic status. A relation between productivity ratios BBT-Br and maturity level were also found. Students with greater maturity choices made more positive choices rather than negative or neutral choices, indicating that the level of maturity has influences on the choice of the BBT -Br process. Finally, some evidences are discovered to assist in future interventions for Career Education.

O processo de escolha profissional pode apresentar maior ou menor complexidade, dependendo dos conflitos vivenciados, dos recursos para seu adequado enfrentamento e resolução, e do grau de maturidade para essa decisão ocupacional. A literatura científica relaciona maturidade para a escolha profissional ao desenvolvimento de certas atitudes (determinação, independência e responsabilidade) e à aquisição de conhecimentos específicos (autoconhecimento e conhecimento sobre a realidade das profissões). Dentro desse contexto, a presente investigação objetivou examinar as possibilidades informativas do BBT-Br (Teste de Fotos de Profissões) quanto a indicadores de maturidade para a escolha profissional, bem como validar e fundamentar empiricamente algumas das hipóteses interpretativas desta técnica projetiva, otimizando seus recursos para os processos de Orientação Profissional/Vocacional. Foram avaliados, individualmente, por meio do BBT-Br, 93 estudantes do terceiro ano do ensino médio público diurno de Ribeirão Preto (SP), de ambos os sexos, divididos em dois grupos com características contrastantes em relação à maturidade para a escolha profissional (GA = 55 com alta maturidade e GB = 38 com baixa maturidade), selecionados previamente pelo resultado na Escala de Maturidade para Escolha Profissional (EMEP), coletivamente aplicada. Foram realizadas análises estatísticas inferenciais dos resultados (Teste Mann-Whitney, p <= 0,05), comparando-se GA e GB e seus respectivos subgrupos (em função do sexo) nas seguintes variáveis: 1) EMEP: resultados obtidos em cada subescala (determinação, responsabilidade, independência, autoconhecimento e conhecimento da realidade profissional) e na maturidade total; 2) BBT-Br: número de escolhas positivas, negativas e neutras; freqüência de escolhas positivas, negativas e neutras de cada um dos oito fatores primários e oito fatores secundários. Também foram analisadas as estruturas de inclinação positivas e negativas, primárias e secundárias, e as fotos mais escolhidas e mais rejeitadas. Os resultados demonstraram a existência de especificidades na produção dos adolescentes em função de seu nível de maturidade para a escolha profissional e também em função do sexo. Em relação à variável sexo, alguns fatores do BBT-Br foram escolhidos com maior freqüência pelas moças (primários: W, Z, O; secundários: w e m) e mais rejeitados pelos rapazes (primários: W, Z, M; secundários: w), principalmente aqueles relacionados a atividades atribuídas ao feminino no contexto sociocultural brasileiro. Estes resultados confirmam, empiricamente, evidências da influência sociocultural na determinação dos interesses profissionais. Em relação à variável foco deste estudo, a maturidade para a escolha profissional, os adolescentes de GA sinalizaram maior abertura para as possibilidades profissionais (maior número de escolhas positivas e menor número de rejeições) comparativamente ao grupo de baixa maturidade que, por sua vez, acabou por restringir suas escolhas positivas e apresentou número alto de escolhas negativas no BBT-Br. Isso se confirmou na análise da distribuição de freqüência das escolhas positivas, negativas e neutras dos fatores primários e secundários do BBT-Br. Nesta direção pode-se notar que GA escolheu significativamente mais e rejeitou menos fotos dos fatores primários S (senso social e dinamismo), V (precisão, objetividade) e G (criatividade, pesquisa), e de cinco fatores secundários (k, s, v, g, o). Por sua vez, o GB fez o oposto disso, escolhendo menos e rejeitando mais os fatores primários mencionados e seis fatores secundários (s, g, o, z, v, m). De maneira geral, os jovens com maiores índices de maturidade para a escolha profissional consideraram um número maior de opções profissionais do BBT-Br, a serem exploradas e, conseqüentemente, integradas em suas decisões ocupacionais, enquanto que os adolescentes com menor maturidade acabaram, com suas rejeições, por restringir suas possibilidades de conhecimento e de consideração desses fatores em suas escolhas profissionais. Pode-se concluir, portanto, que o nível de maturidade para a escolha profissional (resultados da EMEP) sinalizou influenciar diretamente os índices de produtividade no BBT-Br, confirmando suas hipóteses interpretativas e, portanto, fortalecendo indicadores de validade para esta técnica projetiva no contexto sócio-cultural contemporâneo. / Career choice is a process which can present different levels of complexity, depending on the conflicts one goes through, the resources for adequately dealing with and solve it, and the maturity degree for this occupational decision. Scientific literature relates maturity for career choice to developing certain attitudes (determination, independence and responsibility) and acquiring specific knowledge (about oneself and careers\' realities). Within this context, the present investigation aimed to examine the informative possibilities of the BBT-Br (Photos of Professions Test), regarding its indicators of maturity for career choice, as well as validate and ground some of the interpretative hypotheses for this projective technique, optimizing its resources for Vocational Guidance processes. The participants were 93 high-school students in the last year of a day-shift public school in Ribeirão Preto (State of São Paulo, Brazil), from both genders. The participants were divided in two groups of contrasting characteristics regarding their maturity for career choice (GA = 55, highly mature, GB = 38, lowly mature), previously selected for their results on the Maturity for Career Choice Scale (Escala de Maturidade para Escolha Profissional - EMEP), which had been applied collectively. All participants were then assessed individually using the BBT-Br. Inferential statistical analyses were performed for the results (Mann-Whitney Test, p <= 0,05), comparing GA and GB, as well as their respective subgroups (as a function of gender), for the following variables: 1) EMEP results on each subscale (determination, responsibility, independence, self-knowledge and knowledge about career reality) and for total maturity; 2) BBT-Br: number of positive, negative and neutral choices; choice frequency (positive, negative and neutral) for primary and secondary factors (eight of each one). Also, inclination structures were analyzed (positive and negative, primary and secondary ones), as well as the most chosen and most rejected photos. The results show the existence of adolescents\' production specificities, regarding their level of career choice maturity and gender. For the latter variable, some BBT-Br factors, were chosen more frequently by females (primary factors: W, Z, O; secondary ones: w and m) and more rejected by males (primary factors: W, Z, M; secondary ones: w), mainly those related to activities attributed to femininity in the brazilian sociocultural context. These results empirically confirm evidences of the sociocultural influence in determining career-related interests. In relation to the focus variable for the present study, that is, career choice maturity, GA adolescents showed wider attitudes for professional possibilities (higher number of positive choices and lower number of rejections), comparatively to the low maturity group, which in their turn restricted their positive choices and presented a high number of negative choices in the BBT-Br. Such data is confirmed in the analysis of frequency distribution for positive, negative and neutral choices of both primary and secondary BBT-Br factors. In the same direction, it can be noted that GA chose significantly more and rejected less photos from factors S (social sense and dynamism), V (precision, objectivity) and G (creativity, research) and five secondary factors (k, s, v, g, o). As for GB, the opposite was observed, or, less positive choices and more rejections to the primary factors mentioned before and six secondary factors (s, g, o, z, v, m). In general, adolescents with higher maturity indexes for career choice considered a higher number of BBT-Br\'s professional options, which can be explored and, consequently, integrated in their occupational decisions. On the other hand, lower mature adolescents end up, with their rejections, to restrict their possibilities to know and consider these factors for their professional choices. Thus, it can be concluded that maturity level for career choice (EMEP results) is related to a direct influence in productivity indexes of the BBT-Br, confirming their interpretative hypothesis and, so, increasing validity indicators for this projective technique in the contemporary sociocultural context.

O processo de escolha profissional pode apresentar maior ou menor complexidade, dependendo dos conflitos vivenciados, dos recursos para seu adequado enfrentamento e resolução, e do grau de maturidade para essa decisão ocupacional. A literatura científica relaciona maturidade para a escolha profissional ao desenvolvimento de certas atitudes (determinação, independência e responsabilidade) e à aquisição de conhecimentos específicos (autoconhecimento e conhecimento sobre a realidade das profissões). Dentro desse contexto, a presente investigação objetivou examinar as possibilidades informativas do BBT-Br (Teste de Fotos de Profissões) quanto a indicadores de maturidade para a escolha profissional, bem como validar e fundamentar empiricamente algumas das hipóteses interpretativas desta técnica projetiva, otimizando seus recursos para os processos de Orientação Profissional/Vocacional. Foram avaliados, individualmente, por meio do BBT-Br, 93 estudantes do terceiro ano do ensino médio público diurno de Ribeirão Preto (SP), de ambos os sexos, divididos em dois grupos com características contrastantes em relação à maturidade para a escolha profissional (GA = 55 com alta maturidade e GB = 38 com baixa maturidade), selecionados previamente pelo resultado na Escala de Maturidade para Escolha Profissional (EMEP), coletivamente aplicada. Foram realizadas análises estatísticas inferenciais dos resultados (Teste Mann-Whitney, p <= 0,05), comparando-se GA e GB e seus respectivos subgrupos (em função do sexo) nas seguintes variáveis: 1) EMEP: resultados obtidos em cada subescala (determinação, responsabilidade, independência, autoconhecimento e conhecimento da realidade profissional) e na maturidade total; 2) BBT-Br: número de escolhas positivas, negativas e neutras; freqüência de escolhas positivas, negativas e neutras de cada um dos oito fatores primários e oito fatores secundários. Também foram analisadas as estruturas de inclinação positivas e negativas, primárias e secundárias, e as fotos mais escolhidas e mais rejeitadas. Os resultados demonstraram a existência de especificidades na produção dos adolescentes em função de seu nível de maturidade para a escolha profissional e também em função do sexo. Em relação à variável sexo, alguns fatores do BBT-Br foram escolhidos com maior freqüência pelas moças (primários: W, Z, O; secundários: w e m) e mais rejeitados pelos rapazes (primários: W, Z, M; secundários: w), principalmente aqueles relacionados a atividades atribuídas ao feminino no contexto sociocultural brasileiro. Estes resultados confirmam, empiricamente, evidências da influência sociocultural na determinação dos interesses profissionais. Em relação à variável foco deste estudo, a maturidade para a escolha profissional, os adolescentes de GA sinalizaram maior abertura para as possibilidades profissionais (maior número de escolhas positivas e menor número de rejeições) comparativamente ao grupo de baixa maturidade que, por sua vez, acabou por restringir suas escolhas positivas e apresentou número alto de escolhas negativas no BBT-Br. Isso se confirmou na análise da distribuição de freqüência das escolhas positivas, negativas e neutras dos fatores primários e secundários do BBT-Br. Nesta direção pode-se notar que GA escolheu significativamente mais e rejeitou menos fotos dos fatores primários S (senso social e dinamismo), V (precisão, objetividade) e G (criatividade, pesquisa), e de cinco fatores secundários (k, s, v, g, o). Por sua vez, o GB fez o oposto disso, escolhendo menos e rejeitando mais os fatores primários mencionados e seis fatores secundários (s, g, o, z, v, m). De maneira geral, os jovens com maiores índices de maturidade para a escolha profissional consideraram um número maior de opções profissionais do BBT-Br, a serem exploradas e, conseqüentemente, integradas em suas decisões ocupacionais, enquanto que os adolescentes com menor maturidade acabaram, com suas rejeições, por restringir suas possibilidades de conhecimento e de consideração desses fatores em suas escolhas profissionais. Pode-se concluir, portanto, que o nível de maturidade para a escolha profissional (resultados da EMEP) sinalizou influenciar diretamente os índices de produtividade no BBT-Br, confirmando suas hipóteses interpretativas e, portanto, fortalecendo indicadores de validade para esta técnica projetiva no contexto sócio-cultural contemporâneo. / Career choice is a process which can present different levels of complexity, depending on the conflicts one goes through, the resources for adequately dealing with and solve it, and the maturity degree for this occupational decision. Scientific literature relates maturity for career choice to developing certain attitudes (determination, independence and responsibility) and acquiring specific knowledge (about oneself and careers\' realities). Within this context, the present investigation aimed to examine the informative possibilities of the BBT-Br (Photos of Professions Test), regarding its indicators of maturity for career choice, as well as validate and ground some of the interpretative hypotheses for this projective technique, optimizing its resources for Vocational Guidance processes. The participants were 93 high-school students in the last year of a day-shift public school in Ribeirão Preto (State of São Paulo, Brazil), from both genders. The participants were divided in two groups of contrasting characteristics regarding their maturity for career choice (GA = 55, highly mature, GB = 38, lowly mature), previously selected for their results on the Maturity for Career Choice Scale (Escala de Maturidade para Escolha Profissional - EMEP), which had been applied collectively. All participants were then assessed individually using the BBT-Br. Inferential statistical analyses were performed for the results (Mann-Whitney Test, p <= 0,05), comparing GA and GB, as well as their respective subgroups (as a function of gender), for the following variables: 1) EMEP results on each subscale (determination, responsibility, independence, self-knowledge and knowledge about career reality) and for total maturity; 2) BBT-Br: number of positive, negative and neutral choices; choice frequency (positive, negative and neutral) for primary and secondary factors (eight of each one). Also, inclination structures were analyzed (positive and negative, primary and secondary ones), as well as the most chosen and most rejected photos. The results show the existence of adolescents\' production specificities, regarding their level of career choice maturity and gender. For the latter variable, some BBT-Br factors, were chosen more frequently by females (primary factors: W, Z, O; secondary ones: w and m) and more rejected by males (primary factors: W, Z, M; secondary ones: w), mainly those related to activities attributed to femininity in the brazilian sociocultural context. These results empirically confirm evidences of the sociocultural influence in determining career-related interests. In relation to the focus variable for the present study, that is, career choice maturity, GA adolescents showed wider attitudes for professional possibilities (higher number of positive choices and lower number of rejections), comparatively to the low maturity group, which in their turn restricted their positive choices and presented a high number of negative choices in the BBT-Br. Such data is confirmed in the analysis of frequency distribution for positive, negative and neutral choices of both primary and secondary BBT-Br factors. In the same direction, it can be noted that GA chose significantly more and rejected less photos from factors S (social sense and dynamism), V (precision, objectivity) and G (creativity, research) and five secondary factors (k, s, v, g, o). As for GB, the opposite was observed, or, less positive choices and more rejections to the primary factors mentioned before and six secondary factors (s, g, o, z, v, m). In general, adolescents with higher maturity indexes for career choice considered a higher number of BBT-Br\'s professional options, which can be explored and, consequently, integrated in their occupational decisions. On the other hand, lower mature adolescents end up, with their rejections, to restrict their possibilities to know and consider these factors for their professional choices. Thus, it can be concluded that maturity level for career choice (EMEP results) is related to a direct influence in productivity indexes of the BBT-Br, confirming their interpretative hypothesis and, so, increasing validity indicators for this projective technique in the contemporary sociocultural context.