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Career Decidedness and Social Capital in High School Rural Students

  • Jul 7, 2026
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Abstract Book of the 11th International Conference on Research in Education, Teaching and Learning

Year: 2026

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Career Decidedness and Social Capital in High School Rural Students

Tetyana Masliyenko, Carlos Reis

ABSTRACT:

Educational and professional decision-making during the high school years provides a critical basis for the transition to higher education or the labor market. While career guidance policies emphasize individual aptitude and academic performance, research highlights the fundamental role of social resources in shaping career trajectories. This is particularly vital in geographically constrained regions where access to institutional networks and role models may be limited.
This article presents the design of a study investigating the relationship between social capital and career decidedness among secondary school students in the rural Central Portugal. Drawing on the theoretical frameworks of Pierre Bourdieu, James Coleman, and Mark L. Savickas, the research examines how access to informational resources and support networks influences students’ ability to make secure career choices. The research also analyses how professional orientation programs for academic and professional high school students influence these crucial variables.
The article provides the robust theoretical background and employs the longitudinal mixed-methods design, tracking students from the grades 10, 11, and 12 at the beggining and at the end of an academic year. This methodological choice is defended as a means to provide an empirical understanding of how social capital operates within rural Portuguese educational system. Ultimately, this research seeks to inform educational policies and guidance practices by identifying support mechanisms that mitigate social inequalities and empower students to make informed, confident career decisions.

Keywords: Social Capital; Career Decidedness; Secondary Education; Rural Context; Longitudinal Study; Professional Orientation