Development and Implementation of the CAREER-PATH Career Coaching Program for Self-Understanding and Early Career Exploration among Fourth-Grade Elementary Students: A Qualitative Case Study

Abstract

This study develops and implements Sessions 1–6 of the CAREER-PATH career coaching program for fourth-grade elementary students and explores students' experiences from a qualitative case study perspective. Participants were 11 fourth-grade students at an educational facility registered with the district office of education in Bundang, Gyeonggi-do. The program was implemented from December 2025 to May 2026, addressing emotions and experiences, strengths, values, the occupational world, interests, and role models. Data included pre-program value interviews, worksheets, coaching logs, parent checklists, teacher observations, and post-program residential substance abuse treatment (RSAT) results. Through repeated reading, extraction of meaning units, open coding, and categorization, eight categories were derived. Three students were selected as representative cases based on continuity of participation, richness of data, and contrast in patterns of change. Students moved beyond fragmentary career-related statements and connected their interests, strengths, and values with preferred occupations, required competencies, and future self-images. Sessions 1–6 were confirmed as a foundation expandable to subsequent sessions, suggesting the potential of self-understanding-centered career coaching and school–home career dialogue.