We consider young children's construals of biological phenomena and the forces that shape them, using Carey's (1985) category-based induction task that demonstrated anthropocentric reasoning in young urban children. Follow-up studies (including our own) have questioned the generality of her results, but they have employed quite different…

Population characteristics of rural youth (persons under 25 years of age) living in the rural areas of the four national regions of North Central, Northeast, West, and South are presented. Emphasis is placed on describing the racial and ethnic variations shown by the target population; focus is on the regional distribution of ethnic minority…

Examined differences in occupational aspirations, expectations, and anticipatory occupational goal deflection in rural Black, White, and Native American adolescents (N=520). Results indicated few ethnic differences in aspirations. Females aspired to higher level occupations but experienced expectations lower than aspirations more often than males.…

Population characteristics of rural youth (persons under 25 years of age) living in the Southwestern States of Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas are presented. Data were collected from the 1970 U.S. Census of Population Final Reports for the individual States. This report is organized into two sections: (1) the analytical text…

In 1975, questionnaires were given to 587 sophomores and seniors in 12 rural high schools. Findings included significant differences between ethnic groups on expected and desired family size and marriage age; but no differences between age groups. (Author/SJL)

Levels of educational and occupational aspiration and expectation of 139 male and female, rural, New Mexican, American Indian youth (sophomores and seniors) were examined. Utilizing questionnaires and fixed-choice stimulus questions, data were gathered to determine: educational and occupational aspirations and expectations; goal deflections for…

Examines educational expectations, aspirations, and anticipatory goal deflections of 73 high school sophomores and seniors with a variety of racial-ethnic backgrounds from 3 isolated rural Alaska schools. Reports significant differences between groups and schools; rural Alaskan Natives showed much lower expectations and aspirations than any other…

Surveyed 13,454 rural Native American adolescents. Found 2 percent reported poor physical health and high rates of health-compromising behaviors, which were significantly correlated with physical or sexual abuse, suicide attempts, substance abuse, poor school performance, and poor nutrition. Academic risk was strongly associated with physical,…

A study was conducted to identify the significant factors of student attrition in Wisconsin's postsecondary vocational, technical, and adult education system to determine predictability, and to indicate areas for improvement of retention measures. Survey instruments were developed to gather data from 121 non-completers and instructors. A third…

Research objectives were to determine the extent to which ethnic variability existed in reference to male and female: occupational aspirations (type, level, and intensity); occupational expectations (type, level, and certainty); and anticipatory goal deflection. Data were derived from surveys of the following rural youth (high school sophomores)…

The purpose of this comparison was to examine qualitative differences between male and female occupational aspirations to better understand similarities and/or differences in level of aspiration. Selected samples of students (3,123) and mothers (425) from 2 regional research projects constituted the source of data. Respondents were from low income…

Investigated incidence of eating disorders in Pueblo Indian and Hispanic high school students (N=95). Found no ethnic differences. Majority of girls reported wanting to lose weight, being worried about weight, and indulging in binge eating. Nine girls reported eating habits consistent with bulimia. Few boys indicated concerns about weight or…

Background research suggested the need for significant concept changes in antipoverty programs such as Neighborhood Youth Corps in meeting the needs of rural youth. A model program designed to maximize social and occupational adjustment of rural youth had been carried out for one year by each of three experimental projects located in northern…

Fixed-choice stimulus questions were distributed to students from 12 New Mexico rural high schools (randomly selected), and responses were derived from 139 Native, 171 Anglo, and 240 Mexican American students in the 10th and 12th grades. Responses indicated educational, occupational, and residential aspirations and expectations and goal…

Studied self concept, parental influence, socioeconomic status, certainty, race and sex in relation to career choice attitudes in 520 Black, White and Native American rural 10th graders. Results suggested the importance of racial differences in predicting career maturity. (JAC)