The educational aspirations and graduate school plans of 404 undergraduates at two universities were studied. Separate analyses were conducted for the 190 males and the 214 females who attended either a large, rural, public institution or a smaller, urban, church-related college. It was found that both men's and women's aspirations rose between…

The historical change in educational status projections of Georgia rural youth was examined from 1966-1972. Used as the sampling unit, counties were: (1) rural, (2) characterized by low socioeconomic status, and (3) representative of all state regions. All schools in each county with a 10th grade class were used, although not necessarily the same…

Based on the evidence and theory that sex-role differentiation increases in salience during those later high school years as students prepare for their imminent transition into young adulthood, it was anticipated that there would be a lower orientation toward achievement among grade 12 girls than grade 10 girls, and, possibly, the opposite for…

In the spring of 1972, over 6500 black and white, male and female high school students in 23 northern Mississippi schools responded to questionnaires concerning their educational plans, when (early or late) they consider the best time to marry, whether they were sure they wanted to marry, and whether they were sure they actually would marry.…

Math avoidance has been hypothesized as related to career choice restrictions. Few attempts have been made, however, to assess the relative importance of the various components of math avoidance to career choice. Furthermore, it has been implied that persons fearful of math not only avoid specific careers but also reject careers that are otherwise…

Historical changes reflected in the educational goals of black and white high school seniors in 1966 and 1972 were compared. The five orientation dimensions studied were aspiration, expectation, goal deflection, goal certainty, and goal intensity. Data were collected in the four contiguous Northeast Alabama counties of Cherokee, DeKalb, Jackson,…

The relative influence of gender, coursework, affect, and other hypothesized determinants of mathematics achievement among high school seniors was examined, using data from the High School and Beyond (HSB) database. The HSB base-year survey used a multi-stage sampling scheme. Complete data on the variables of this study were available for 16,358…

A study examined gender differences in values in relation to ongoing educational changes in Russia. Surveys of 53 male and 64 female university students in Yakutia (northeast Russia) indicated persistent traditional gender stereotypes, except that females appreciated education more than males. This could result in family conflicts, since women do…

In 1965, a youth aspiration study was initiated in six southern states. Data were first collected in 1966 from 10th grade students in selected high schools. In 1968, 12th grade students attending the same schools completed questionnaires. Then, in 1972, a stratified random sample was taken of 1,226 young adults who were previously examined. This…

This study used data from a 4-year longitudinal study of students at the University of Missouri, Columbia, to explore differences between males and females in their decisions to seek bachelor's degrees. The study focused particularly on three mediating variables: (1) performance levels, (2) expectations, and (3) attainment values. Data were…

The effects of family background factors on the mobility aspirations of 70 black and white Chicago, Illinois male adolescents were investigated. Data on family socioeconomic status, family structure, parent aspirations for the son and parent-child relationships were obtained by interviewing the father, mother, and son in each family. Results…

The relative participation of high ability male and female college students as natural science majors and attrition of these students from the sciences to other majors were studied at a highly selective, comprehensive research university. Of concern were the following major fields: biology, microbiology, biophysics, premedicine, astronomy,…

Results of surveys (in 1967, 1973, and 1978-1979) of nonmetropolitan Mexican American high school sophomores from South Texas indicated that, although broad similarities existed between males and females, there were also specific patterned gender differences in social behavior and orientations. In status projection levels, particularly educational…

The relationships among students' goals, demographic variables, and attrition at Delta Community College (Michigan) were investigated. A total of 600 (out of a random sample of 1,000) fall 1976 students credit courses agreed to participate in the study and identified their goals in attending the college. In the winter 1977 semester, 493 returning…

The impact of school racial context (percentage of Anglo students in school and degree of Anglo peer group integration) and student background characteristics (sex, race, educational attainment of father of school racial context differed for Blacks intentions was addressed. A random subsample of Anglo (1,367), Black (1,172), and Hispanic (430)…