Study design

Middelbare scholieren zitten in de gang te kletsen

The INTRANSITION project has a multifaceted study design. We targeted student groups that are about to make an important school transition: a) from primary to secondary school or b) from secondary school to post-secondary education, tertiary education, or work. To get a robust impression of the effects of these transitions, we also included a third group that was similar to the older participants in age, but did not make the school transition (e.g., students that were already in the first year of tertiary education or in the penultimate year of secondary education). INTRANSITION consists of 4 waves of data collection with 6 months in-between: 2 waves before the transition, and 2 waves after the transition. INTRANSITION includes target adolescents, one of their parents, and one of their (best) friends.

The data collection consists of four different methods of assessment:
Self-report questionnaires;
Momentary assessments with Experience Sampling Methodology;
Observations of real-time interactions with parents and friends;
Saliva.

The figure below presents an overview of the assessments at each wave.

Figuur van het proces van 'School Transition'

Measures

  1. Questionnaires
    Adolescent self-reports, reports by parents, reports by friends
    Background variables
    Personality
    Behavioral and emotional measures
    School characteristics and experiences
    Interpersonal relationships
     
  2. Experience Sampling Method (ESM)
    Two weeks duration in each wave, four times per day.
    Adolescent reported on daily experiences, daily mood and social interactions
     
  3. Observations
    Friend interaction tasks:
    Friend communication and problem-solving
    Susceptibility to friend influence (Dilemma task)

    Parent conflict task:
    Interaction behavior between adolescent and parent
    Susceptibility to parent influence (Dilemma task)

    Identity Interview:
    Aimed at capturing turning point moments
    Expectations regarding upcoming school transition (Wave 1), or
    Experience of school transition (Wave 4)
     
  4. DNA of target adolescents (saliva collection)
    Access to data: We are in the process of developing codebooks and data access procedures. If you are interested in using the data, please contact the principal investigator, Susan Branje.