Stimulating adolescents' decision-making

The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between adolescents' decision-making and their sense of control over the future. In order to raise their knowledge of decision making, 98 lower-middle class junior high school pupils, 11- to 14-years-olds, participated in a training programme ''Pros and Cons'' The programme presented themes such as responsibility, plans, choices and alternatives. The experimental group was compared with 122 junior high school pupils who did not participate in the programme, within a quasi-experimental design. Results of the study indicated that increased knowledge of decision making raises pupils' sense of control over their achievements and their perception of school as an instrument for their future career. (C) 1997 The Association for Professionals in Services for Adolescents.