University of Tokyo

Abstract
Survey Number 0892
Survey Title Longitudinal Survey on High School Students' Career Paths (1st-6th), 2005-2011
Depositor Center for Research on University Management and Policy, The University of Tokyo
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Educational Purpose Available for both research and instructional purposes.
Period of Data Use Permission One year
Access to Datasets Download
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Summary In today's age of "universal university enrollment," the issue of higher education opportunities for high school students seems to be losing its importance in public policy. However, the fact that high school students' career choices are closely related to their family finances is a reality that cannot be ignored.
 To clarify the issues that educational policy should address under these circumstances, it is necessary to decipher the relationships among various variables, such as high school students' career aspirations and their attitudes toward higher education, household finances, region of residence, and high school experience, from multiple perspectives.
 The following pertinent questions are raised: How are the rising costs of education limiting youth’s ability to attend college? What can and should be done regarding the availability of scholarships and other public policies?
 This survey was designed to obtain basic data to inform systematic discussion about these issues, based on the following three points:
・Area sampling was used to evenly select high school students from across the country, enabling simultaneous analysis of national and regional trends.
・By soliciting the cooperation of guardians, it will be possible to clarify the relationship between the attitudes and financial situations of guardians and the attitudes and career choices of high school students.
・A follow-up survey will clarify how the career choices made in the third year of high school affect the rest of an individual’s life.

 The first survey was conducted in November 2005, targeting 4,000 high school seniors and their parents nationwide. Since then, high school students themselves have been asked about their subsequent situations in March 2006, November 2006, January 2008, December 2009, and February 2011.
 This survey was supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research on Innovative Areas) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science.
 Mitsui Information Development Co., Ltd. was commissioned to conduct Surveys 1–3, and Survey Research Center, Inc. was commissioned to conduct Surveys 4–6.
Data Type quantitative research: micro data
Universe Third-year high school students and their parents (or guardians)
・The term "high school" does not include regular high schools and technical colleges.
・Only students who live with their parent(s) or guardian(s) (excluding boarding, dormitory, and other non-home lodgings) were included.
・Only students and parents available to complete the follow-up survey in early March 2006 and again 1 year later (around November 2006) were eligible.
・Only students/parents/guardians who were able to respond to the survey as both "high school seniors" and "their parents (guardians),” respectively, were included.
Unit of Observation Individual
Sample Size First survey: 4,000 high school students (2,000 men, 2,000 women), 4,000 guardians
Second survey:3,493 high school students (response rate: 87.3%), 1,729 men (response rate: 86.5%), 1,764 women (response rate: 88.2%)
Supplementary survey to the second survey: 277 high school students (response rate: 71.8%)
Third survey:2,906 high school students (response rate: 83.2%)
Fourth survey:1,991 high school students (response rate: 82.1%)
Fifth survey:1,535 high school students (response rate: 82.3%)
Sixth survey:1,657 high school students (response rate: 75.8%)
Date of Collection 2005-11 ~ 2011-02
First survey: 2005/11, second survey: 2006/3, supplementary survey to the second survey/third survey: 2006/11, fourth survey: 2008/1, fifth survey: 2009/12, sixth survey: 2011/2
Time Period 2005 ~ 2011
Spatial Unit Japan
All over Japan
Sampling Procedure Mixed probability and non-probability
Area quota sampling using the stratified two-stage random sampling method
Ten high school students (5 males and 5 females) were selected per site from 400 sites nationwide for a total of 4,000 students; 4,000 guardians were also surveyed.
Mode of Data Collection Telephone interview
Self-administered questionnaire: Paper
First survey: Placement (self-administered, drop-off/pick-up) method
Second survey: Mail survey
Supplementary survey to the second survey: Telephone survey
Third survey: Mail survey
Fourth survey: Mail survey
Fifth survey: Mail survey
Sixth survey: Mail survey
Investigator Center for Research on University Management and Policy, The University of Tokyo
Surveys 1–3 were administered by Mitsui Knowledge Industry Co., Ltd. (company name at that time), and Surveys 4–6 were administered by Survey Research Center Co., Ltd.
DOI 10.34500/SSJDA.0892
Sponsors (Funds)
Related Publications (by the Investigator) Please refer to the abstract in Japanese.
Related Publications (based on Secondary Analysis) List of related publications (based on Secondary Analysis)
Documentation Questionnaire
Major Survey Items [Survey 1]
(1) High school students
(a) Respondents’ basic characteristics
・Gender, school, department, program, course, whether the respondent is in their desired department, strongest subject, percentage of students going on to higher education, grades, study time, number of absences, whether the respondent has a part-time job, number of friends, strong and weak points, cohabitating, relationship with parents

(b) Career path after high school graduation
Desired career path (in 1–2 years, present), post-graduation career path (higher education, employment), reasons for career choice (higher education, employment), aspects considered in career choice, financial burden of higher education, desired occupation in 30s, desired higher education destination (in 1–2 years, intention to take an entrance exam, first choice), location of desired higher education institution, major field of tertiary study, reasons for choosing first choice, and financial burden of attending respondent’s first choice

(c) About the future and society
・Opinions about the future, desired age for marriage, plans for a family and future life, plans for future occupation and income, society, scholarships

(2) Guardians
(a) Basic items
Relationship with the student, mode of cohabitation, age, occupation, highest level of educational attainment, annual income, whether respondent attends cram school (junior high school and high school), and cost of attending cram school and lessons (junior high school and high school)

(b) Children’s career path
Parents'/guardians’ opinions about their children's future and career path after graduation, aspects the parents/guardians consider important when choosing a career path, parents’/guardians’ desired career path for their children, parents’/guardians’ desired focus for their children, parents’/guardians’ preferred tertiary institution for their children to attend

(c) Cost burden
Parents’/guardians’ ability to bear the cost of tuition and living expenses if their child(ren) go on to higher education, parents’/guardians’ educational aspirations for their children if they had the financial means, monetary amount needed to realize their wishes, Japan Student Services Organization scholarships on loan, cost to be borne if the respondent’s child(ren) went on to their desired higher education destination (tuition and living expenses), and parents’/guardians’ financing method if they are unable to bear the cost of their child(ren)’s desired higher education destination

(d) Parent–child relationship
Child(ren)’s characteristics, frequency of discussion about the child(ren)'s future

(e) Social and policy issues
Burden of educational expenses, scholarship system, national policy on university education, importance of achieving status, and society

[Survey 2]
(1) Common items
Career path beginning in April, reasons for career choice, satisfaction with career path, and change of address

(2) Job seekers’ career paths and attitudes
Place of work, industry, occupation type, job application method, future aspirations (to work for a long time, to go to school), and higher education institution

(3) Career paths and attitudes of those who plan to go on to higher education
Higher education institution, founder, location of school, field of specialization, route to school, selection method, National Center Test (whether taken, subjects taken, results), and post-university plans

[Survey 3]
(1) Common items
Current residential status, reflection on high school, prefecture of residence, and intention to participate in future surveys

(2) People entering the workforce
Employment status, current job, skills required for work, future professional life, and future plans for higher education

(3) Students
School attended, attendance, commuting time, grades in the previous semester, opinions about school, how the respondent spends their week, average monthly income (money sent home, part-time job, scholarship), and school life

(4) Prep school, part-time job, others
Respondent's current employment activities, how the respondent spends their time on weekdays, respondent’s expectations for next April, respondent’s intentions for the present and the future, whether the respondent has a part-time job, the type of part-time job, working hours, and income

[Survey 4]
(1) Common items
Prefecture of residence, willingness to participate in future surveys

(2) University students
University attended, year of enrollment, attendance, commuting time, grades in the previous semester, how the respondent spends their time during the week, average monthly income, experience after enrollment, career path after graduation (at the time of enrollment and now), and process of enrolling in the current school

(3) Students at a junior college or vocational school
School attended, length of study, year of enrollment, attendance, plans for graduation, opinions about the school, process of enrolling in the current school, career path after graduation, whether the respondent is looking for a job, industry or occupation for which the respondent has a job offer, application method, and respondent's feelings about the company offering the job

(4) Working people
Type of employment, year in which employment commenced, working hours (average per day), number of days off per month, monthly income, current job, and future professional life

(5) Part-time job, others
Whether the respondent has a part-time job, working hours, number of part-time job experiences, income, experiences after high school graduation, reasons for quitting job, reasons for dropping out of school, and present and future intentions

[Survey 5]
(1) Common items
Current type of residence, prefecture of residence, and intention to participate in future surveys

(2) Students
School attended, year of enrollment, current grade, attendance, grades since enrollment, how the respondent spends their time on weekdays, experiences since enrollment, graduation plans, career path after graduation (possible, most desired, if decided), what the respondent has gained from school life, whether the respondent has been job hunting, whether the respondent has received a job offer, number of interviews, job hunting activities, industry to which company offering the job belongs, occupation type, number of employees at the company offering the job, expected place of work, application method, and respondent's feelings about the company offering the job

(3) Working people
Employment status, year in which employment commenced, working hours (average per day), number of days off per month, monthly income, industry/occupation type, size of business establishment, current job, and plans for future professional life

(4) Part-time job, others
Whether the respondent has a part-time job, type of part-time job, working hours, number of part-time job experiences, income, and current and future intentions

[Survey 6]
(1) Common items
Current type of residence, prefecture of residence, and intention to participate in future surveys

(2) Students
School attended, year of enrollment, current grade, expected graduation date, career path after graduation, whether the respondent is job hunting, whether the respondent has received a job offer, job hunting commencement date, number of interviews, industry to which prospective employer belongs, occupation type for which the respondent has been interviewed, number of employees at the company offering the job, respondent’s perceptions of the job offer(s) (desirable/undesirable), evaluation at the time of employment, specialized field in graduate school, views on career paths (at the time of enrollment and present), and perceptions of graduate school education

(3) Working people
Employment status, year in which employment commenced, working hours (average per day), number of days off per month, monthly income, type of business/occupation, office population size, experience with and reasons for changing job(s), current professional life, current workplace, evaluation at the time of employment, and reasons for choosing the current job

(4) Part-time jobs, etc.
Employment status, reasons for quitting job, current life, activities to which the respondent dedicates most of their time, working hours and income from part-time jobs, the respondent’s reflection on their trajectory from high school to the present, and perceptions of high school education

*For details concerning the survey items, refer to the survey questionnaire.
Date of Release 2014/07/29
Topics in CESSDA Click here for details

ECONOMICS
Income, property and investment/saving
EDUCATION
Higher and further education
LABOUR AND EMPLOYMENT
Employment
Working conditions
SOCIAL STRATIFICATION AND GROUPINGS
Children
Social and occupational mobility
Youth
Topics in SSJDA Education/Learning
Employment/Labor
Version 1 : 2014-07-29
Notes for Users Variable and value labels are written in Japanese.