The purpose of this study of rural youth, initiated in 1964, was to determine if low family income tends to depress students' aspirations, achievements, and expectations. The sample for the study consisted of 601 students from 30 Washington high schools. The data were obtained by questionnaires and interviews administered to students, and through…

Describes an ethnographic dissertation that portrays how patterns of culture and history in a rural community in Maine negatively influence many rural students' academic aspirations. Consolidated schools exacerbate the effect by separating students from their parents and communities and alienating them in school. (TD)

To investigate and compare educational and vocational goals of urban youth from rural and non-rural backgrounds, with each other and with their parents and to explore the effect of sex of child, level-of-living, and family size on these goals, 11 schools were randomly selected from predominantly white junior high schools in cities of at least…

Previous research studies were reviewed, and hypotheses relating to educational aspiration and occupational choice were developed. Information on educational aspirations and expectations was then obtained from a random sample of students enrolled in 1964-65 in 30 rural Washington high schools. Farm versus non-farm student differences were examined…

Parent and student surveys were conducted in nine primarily rural West Virginia counties to gather baseline information on incoming seventh-grade students' and parents' awareness of and aspirations for postsecondary education. The surveys are administered each year as part of Fairmont State College's GEAR UP (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness…

Data from the National Longitudinal Study of High School Seniors (1972) were utilized to examine the effects of school personnel on educational and occupational decisions of farm-reared students. Information was gathered on 10 "significant others" grouped into 5 types: (1) ego--influence of self; (2) family--parents and relatives; (3)…

The primary objective of a pilot study was to investigate the educational motivation of rural native Appalachian eighth grade females in terms of educational attitudes, educational decisions, and educational self-concept. Results from the study (sample size: 27) indicate strongly that female Appalachian adolescents, about to enter womanhood, do…

Data from the National Longitudinal Study of 1972 (designed to provide statistics on a national sample of young adults as they moved out of high school into their early adulthood) were utilized to examine the determinants of college attendance with controlling variables, such as family background and students' ability. The sample from base year…

To determine how well rural youths were adjusting to modern society, a study on educational and occupational aspirations of male high school seniors from two counties in Southwest Arkansas was begun in 1965 and completed in 1972. A major finding in the first stage was that 70% of the 165 seniors (121 Whites, 44 Blacks) overaspired for their…

One of a series of bibliographies on selected topics, this annotated bibliography includes 116 citations on the educational and occupational aspirations and expectations of rural youth. Citations are derived from the ERIC monthly publications "Resources in Education" (RIE) and "Current Index to Journals in Education" (CIJE).…