A Study of Digital Career Guidance in Hungary Among Adolescent Students and University Students: Examining the Role and Effectiveness of AI in the Career Decision-Making Process
A Study of Digital Career Guidance in Hungary Among Adolescent Students and University Students: Examining the Role and Effectiveness of AI in the Career Decision-Making Process

Summary/Abstract: The study aims to present the Digital Career Guidance Model (DCGM), a new, integrative theoretical framework. Its purpose is to examine the capabilities, use, and psychological mechanisms of artificial intelligence (AI)-based career guidance tools (e.g., ChatGPT, Gemini, Groq) among adolescent and university students. The model integrates key concepts from social cognitive career theory (SCCT), linking technological acceptance, perceived trust and career decision-making self-efficacy (CDMSE-SF; Török et al., 2017) with career decision-making difficulties (CDDQ; Olteanu, 2022). The research will be conducted in a cross-sectional, quantitative study planned for 2026, involving 400–500 Hungarian students aged 17–20. Participants will complete validated measurement instruments (TAM, CDMSE-SF, CDDQ) and individually created items assessing ChatGPT use, perceived efficacy, and decision certainty. Data analysis will be performed using structural equation modelling (SEM) and mediation–moderation analysis (MCA) with the SPSS, AMOS, and lavaan programmes. The research aims to examine the DCGM model and explore the psychological mechanisms underlying AI-supported career decisions. Based on the theoretical framework outlined above, the research contributes to the development of digital career psychology by interpreting AI as a cognitive decisionmaking partner that supports adolescents' self-reflection, self-confidence, and career decision-making.

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