This study investigated the impact of behavioral and affective factors on 688 African American high school students' academic performance, examining the relationship between school engagement, educational expectations, self-esteem, and school achievement; noting differences between males and females; and discussing whether behavioral and affective…

Surveys educational and occupational expectations of students, grades 10 to 12, in four rural Ohio schools. Reports females show significantly higher educational and occupational aspirations than males. Areas of anticipated college study and occupational expectations are sex stereotypic; however, young rural women's occupational aspirations are…

A survey of 184 rural high school students found no differences in educational aspiration between males and females. Females expressed significantly higher occupational aspirations, in terms of jobs rated highly on the Total Socioeconomic Index 2. (SK)

Examined the scope of influence exerted by occupational and educational significant others identified by 142 high school youth to determine the extent to which this influence is segmental. Data showed that the influence of most significant others was specific to either educational or occupational ambitions, suggesting that these are fairly…

Using data from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988, this study found that high school seniors with learning disabilities held lower aspirations than peers for both educational and occupational outcomes. No practical gender differences were found for students with learning disabilities. (DB)

A study of adolescents (210 in college prep and 164 in vocational education) indicated that 85% of college prep and 41.5% of vocational students desired professional jobs; vocational students expected their jobs would have lower status; males were less likely to believe they would attain bachelor's degrees and more likely to pursue other…

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…

Post high school expectancies of high school students were compared to their high school grades in a longitudinal study. The results clearly indicate that the causal ordering is from grades to expectancies, rather than the reverse. (Author/JKS)

Combined data from Coleman's 1961 Adolescent Society survey and 15-year follow-up study of early status attainment of respondents. Found parents' effects on children's educational aspirations and attainments due to modeling and defining influences. Defining effects exceeded modeling effects in strength; proportion of parental influence due to…

Performance differences between two trials of two tasks indicated that students who learned during the second trial that they were being evaluated (high evaluation condition) demonstrated greater debilitation on anagrams and greater improvement on the visual motor task than low evaluation condition subjects. Evaluation condition influenced girls'…

Females had significantly higher attitude and competency scores on the Abbreviated Career Maturity Inventory, completed by 114 female and 187 male African-American high school students. Educational plans were consistent with occupational expectations; 90% females and 74% males preferred careers requiring degrees, and 89% females and 86% males…

Examined career aspirations of gifted high school juniors (n=194). Administered Occupations List to obtain information about career alternatives considered at various ages. Career alternatives considered in early life period were compared with those considered later in terms of prestige and gender traditionality. Results suggest that gifted…

A questionnaire survey in one metropolitan high school suggests that both male and female Latino students generally aspire to attend college. Parents' aspirations, peer influence, ethnic and social class awareness, and students' perception of locus of control and educational benefits are related to college aspirations. (CTM)

Shifts in the number of women in the workplace and a greater diversity and prestige level in their work may have an impact on the educational and occupational level to which students aspire. To examine the consequences of this shift, a comparison of the educational and occupational aspirations of high school students with the educational and…

Among high school students, males' educational and career aspirations were strongly influenced by their academic ability and achievement, while females' aspirations were influenced mainly by parental attitudes and their socioeconomic background. (Author/MJL)