Research

It is essential for us to collect knowledge about the target groups we work with, to know their needs, and to understand the obstacles they have to face. We believe that through qualitative research methods we can obtain information that makes our services better suited to the real needs of our clients. EKS has an experienced research team which is determined to use the research results in practice and to transform research outputs into practical methodological tools.

Would you like to cooperate with us? Do you want to know more about our research? Let us know, we'll get back to you.

List of our researches
Crucial Impacts on Career Choices (2019-2020)

The aim of this European research was to develop an understanding of the influences on young people’s career decision making and to help career practitioners understand the variety of contexts and factors that influence their everyday work and their clients’ career choices. The research considered the experiences of two groups of young people aged 13-14 and 15-16 with regard to the choices they have to make. The qualitative phase of the research involved four focus groups with young people at primary and secondary schools.

 

The next phase of the research reviewed the data through the lens of practitioners’ insight. We applied the approach of “research circles” and we discussed selected findings in greater detail. The EKS team (together with the following experts and practitioners: Lenka Hloušková, Jan Chaluš, Petr Chaluš, Iva Kirovová, Marek Lisý, Pavel Namyslo) used their knowledge of the school curriculum and the results from the research to focus on the need to help young people make links between curriculum subjects and future career options.

 

Download the research results (the research report)

Download the research report summary

Download the handbook „A Practitioners Guide to Uncharted Waters of Career Counselling“

(transforms research outputs into a practical methodological tool)

Women on the Czech Labour Market (2017)

We were interested in how the realities and trends of the labour market are reflected, what barriers the disadvantaged groups (especially women after parental leave) face and how these barriers are taken into account by counsellors in their work. The research was carried out in the form of in-depth interviews and surveys. The respondents were mothers of children of up to 15 years of age and also advisors of Labour Offices who are in daily contact with women.  We analysed the situation on the labour market and in cooperation with the Labour Offices we also studied how they work with unemployed clients.

Discrimination of Refugees in the Czech Republic from a Gender Perspective (2008).

The aim of the research was to explore refugees’ lives in the Czech Republic – to find out what preceded their forced departure from their country of origin and what kind of treatment they meet on an everyday basis. The research describes particular cases of discrimination (with a focus on the gender dimension of each case) and denial of equal treatment. It also records positive examples and recommendations for good practice.

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Integration of migrant women from a gender perspective (2008)

The aim of the research was to map the process of integration of migrant women into the Czech society with a special focus on five areas - women's rights, family relationships, sharing of care within a family, position of women in society including economic independence and self-realization, and the role of traditions and religion in defining of gender roles. We were interested in changes that women have undergone in these areas in connection with their arrival into a different socio-cultural environment and the risk factors and potential conflicts that might arise during the process of integration.

Homebased work (2002-2006)

The first qualitative research, carried out in 2002 and 2006 aimed to look into the phenomenon of homebased work in the Czech Republic.  The research team concentrated on three areas – the character and type of work carried from home, the working conditions, and the motivation of homebased workers.  Another subject of the research was the influence of home-based work on distribution of roles within a family (in comparison to standard employment).

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The second qualitative research (2008) focused on exploring the correlation between home-based work and the lack of provisions for a better work life balance (lack of childcare facilities, lack of part time and flexible jobs, gender pay gap, etc.).

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