This article examines the educational trajectories envisioned by immigrant-origin youths. The mixed-methods research draws upon quantitative (N = 445) and interview data (n = 112). Whereas most prior research focuses on educational achievement or educational attainment of immigrant-origin youth, this article focuses on their outlooks concerning…

In this paper, we develop an information distortion model (IDM) of social class differences in self-beliefs and values. The IDM combines psychological biases on frame-of-reference effects with sociological foci on ability stratification. This combination is hypothesized to lead to working-class children having more positive math self-beliefs and…

The purpose of this person-oriented, 5-wave longitudinal study was to examine the trajectories of educational expectations from adolescence to young adulthood in the context of the expectancy-value theory (Eccles et al., 1983). Altogether, 853 (48% female; M age = 16 years) Finnish adolescents reported their educational expectation, 1st in the…

This study examined whether physical activity, mental health and socio-economic position were associated with the overall academic performance and future educational plans of adolescents aged 15-16 years. We used a sample of 7002 boys and girls from the Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1986. Data were collected by a postal enquiry in 2001-02.…

This chapter examines development through different life transitions, such as educational transitions and transition to parenthood during adolescence to adulthood in the context of the life-span model of personal goals. According to the life-span model of motivation, four key mechanisms--channeling, choice, co-regulation, and compensation--play a…

Survey responses from 217 (62%) Finnish polytechnic students indicated that they made choices according to family background. Mothers' education was related to their interest in continuing studies; fathers' education was related to the status of their intended educational choice. (SK)

Using a cross-sectional follow-up study we examined how different aspects of work were valued by three cohorts of adolescents 15-16 years of age in 1977 (n = 231), 1989 (n = 404) and 1995 (n = 276), and how these evaluations changed. The association of values with gender and educational plans was analysed. Self-actualising values became more…

Provides a brief overview of the Finnish educational system and examines the effects of family educational and socioeconomic background on access to and success in higher education. Data on 1985 and 1990 secondary school graduates and young adults indicated that children tended to aim at the same sort of education and jobs as their parents. (MDM)

The formation of educational preferences was analyzed using log-linear modeling and data from a survey of nearly 4,000 applicants for higher education in Finland in the policy context of new vocational-higher education institutions. High status orientation was the main factor determining the choice of university sector. (SLD)