In 2004, the Center for Rural Pennsylvania contracted with Pennsylvania State University to begin a longitudinal study of rural Pennsylvania school students to understand their educational and career aspirations and the factors influencing their aspirations, whether their plans change as they age and if they attain their goals. In its entirety,…

Results of a survey of White Appalachian and rural Black youth indicated that parents were the most frequent choice of these youth as significant others (SOs) for career decisions. Analyses for race differences in the SO choices of these young people failed to support "deficit" interpretations of the Black family. (Author/BL)

While both whites and nonwhites have similarly high aspirations, study results show positive linkage between class and community size, and actual expectation. These factors may significantly discourage the development of high level vocational plans of capable adolescents from rural, lower class environments. (CJ)

Cluster-analytic technique classified 189 rural adolescents according to career indecision type as measured by Career Decision Scale. Resulting three-cluster solution described types of career indecision experienced by adolescents in early exploration stage. Clusters span continuum that includes tentatively decided-crystallizing preferences,…

Rural male (N=99) classified in an earlier study as low or high identification males were surveyed five years after graduation. Results indicate statistical differences between groups on occupational status and achievement, educational achievement, and optimism about the future. (Author)

Examined relations between parent attitudes, intrinsic value of science, peer support, available activities, and preference for science careers for science-talented rural high school girls. Findings from questionnaires completed by 220 students and their mothers highlight the importance of providing activities and other supports to maintain girls'…

Comparison of 57 rural adolescents choosing agriculture careers with 474 who did not shows that (1) more males than females chose agriculture; (2) parents of students choosing agriculture were less likely to have high school education; (3) students whose fathers worked in service/labor/farming or who had lower socioeconomic status were more likely…

A description of the types and occupational status of the role models selected by black and white rural Texas youth as high school sophmores and again 2 years later. Racial and sex differences are reported and implications for future research discussed. (EH)

One of the largest problems facing rural school counselors is that of confronting the low career expectations that many rural students have by the time they reach high school. The relationship among the fear of success (FOS), self-concept, and career decision making of adolescents was examined in this study. Special attention was given to whether…

Examines how well structural and social psychological variables explain occupational aspirations of 447 rural, low-income southern youth during preadolescence, adolescence, and young adulthood (contacts were made in 1969, 1975, and 1979). Finds results vary from Ginsburg's theory of three stages with occupational expectations declining rapidly…

The document tested the level of generalization of a recent conclusion from past research (see ED075156) on nonmetropolitan (NM) south and southwest Texas Mexican American teenagers: that these youths have predominantly high and strong status aspirations and expectations. Earlier findings on NM Mexican American youth supported Merton's thesis that…

Gifted females have less frequently sought high-prestige and high-income careers due to a number of barriers. Some barriers are related to society's expectations of women, and others are related to the workplace itself. The most limiting and pervasive barrier is "sex role socialization's impact on the child's developing self-belief system"…

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)…

Trends in employment in West Germany evolved from analysis of a rural youth survey based on interviews from 1955, 1968, and 1980. Persons surveyed were from 17 to 28 years of age and lived in settlements of 5,000 inhabitants or less. During the time period (1955-1980), the youth employment rate decreased from 74% to 67%. Agricultural jobs…

Studied families in the Iowa Youth and Family Project for the social and developmental pathways by which adolescents approach decisions to relocate. Found that lack of socioeconomic opportunity, relatively weak and declining ties to family and religious community, and strong educational prospects were potent factors. Also found that plans to…