College Students' Career Cognition Ability Survey Dataset

This dataset originates from a questionnaire survey investigating the status of career cognition among undergraduates in colleges and universities in Southwest China. The research aimed to deeply explore the phenomenon and causes of “career cognition disconnection” among students across dimensions such as occupational knowledge, decision-making actions, and information acquisition. Data were collected online in December 2025, yielding 543 valid responses. The questionnaire primarily covers students' understanding of official knowledge systems (e.g., the National Occupational Classification), career exploration behaviors (translation of interest into action), and preferences for channels of occupational information.The sample covers students from freshman to senior years, with second-year undergraduates constituting the largest proportion (86.37%), providing a good representation of the general student population in the region. The dataset has been rigorously anonymized, containing only aggregate statistical information without any personal identifiers.This dataset provides valuable first-hand empirical data for researching college student career development, evaluating the effectiveness of university career education programs, and informing education policy making. It is particularly suitable for in-depth analysis in fields such as career cognition theoryand education-to-employment transition policies.