The Dynamic between Work Values and Part-Time Work Experiences across the High School Years.

The work value system, its development, and its relationship with work experiences can be modeled as an adaptive control system [Ford, D. H., & Lerner, R. M. (1992). Developmental systems theory: An integrative approach. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications]. This study employed longitudinal data from 1000 participants (Youth Development Study; Jeylan Mortimer, Principal Investigator) and three work value domains to test the assertion that work values and experiences change in concert from the 9th to 12th grade. The results suggest that work values and experiences exhibit cohesion and discrepancy reduction patterns which serve to maintain a dynamic link within the work value system and between the value system and part-time work experiences across the high school years. Envisioning a future career seemingly has a greater influence on adolescent vocational development than do part-time work experiences. 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.