Following a review of literature that uncovered conflicting evidence about the effectiveness of formal and informal methods of finding a job, a study was conducted to test the hypothesis that informal methods (such as personal contacts) were more effective for young adults. Data were collected on a group of Southern rural, poverty-level, fifth-…

A longitudinal study conducted in six southern states dealt with four population categories (poor youth, rural youth, black youth, and females) frequently neglected in status aspiration, career goal, and life plans research. The term "life plans" included educational and occupational aspirations as well as expectations of age at…