Frequently asked questions

The DAB panel study (short for Determinants of Educational Choice and VET Opportunities) is a long-term survey of 8th graders in the 2011/12 school year, funded by SERI and conducted by the University of Bern.

The DAB panel helps to address a wide range of issues relevant to VET/PET, labour market and occupational research that could not be addressed with the longitudinal data available in Switzerland to date. By taking into account the educational situation and occupational aspirations prior to the completion of the first post-compulsory education, longitudinal data are available for the first time for German-speaking Switzerland, which can be used to examine whether and to what extent the employment realised upon entering the labour market or the type of further qualification chosen corresponds to the aspirations expressed at earlier points in time, and which factors influence the educational and occupational path chosen.

The DAB Panel Study is a long-term study that examines changes in educational trajectories over time. Repeated surveys make it possible to examine individual educational trajectories and thus filter out factors that play an important role in the career development of adolescents and young adults. If respondents stop participating, we cannot replace them with others. In this sense, all young people who have already been interviewed by us are irreplaceable.

The survey is conducted both online and by telephone. We are supported by professional survey institutes.

The answers are analysed using statistical methods, together with the answers of another 4,000 young people of the same age. The results are presented in tables and graphs that do not allow any conclusions to be drawn about the answers of individual people. We at the DAB Panel Study and other researchers can use this method to make an important contribution to clarifying important questions in vocational training, labour market and occupational research. Our findings are published in books and journals and discussed at conferences. In addition to scientific publication, our study also serves to inform the public.

The data collected in the DAB study are made available to interested researchers in anonymised form. Again, no conclusions can be drawn about individual respondents. Researchers working with the DAB data are contractually bound to comply with all data protection regulations.

Even if your situation has not changed, it is important that you take part again. In order to assess developments correctly, we need to know how many people have not changed since the last contact. Only with this information can the researchers estimate the proportion of people for whom something new has happened. Therefore, information from people who have not changed is also important.

Your participation in the survey is voluntary and may be withdrawn at any time. You can also withdraw your consent to the use of your data at any time. To do so, please send us a short message HERE stating your personal details.

It is only through your participation that we can offer a realistic picture of the career and education choices of Swiss young people. We guarantee that all your information will be kept strictly confidential and analysed anonymously.

In 2012/2013 you participated in the main survey of the DAB Panel Study as part of a classroom survey. We asked for your contact details and asked for your consent to be contacted in the future.