Investigated the relationship of racial differences to incidence of vocational unrealism when both ability and socioeconomic status are assessed. Results showed most students were unrealistic and Black students were no more unrealistic than White students. Black students attributed more importance to and felt more confidence in obtaining choices.…

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…

Existing theories of career development are based primarily on observations of white, middle-class males. This has prompted consideration of a separate theory of career development for women. Before a separate theory can be justified, it must be established that sex differences in the career development process do exist. A study attempted to…

Measures of the perception of occupational prestige and vocational maturity of high school students were investigated together with other variables. Correlates of the perception of occupational prestige, showing no sex differences, were vocational maturity, educational level associated with father's occupation, educational level required for the…

This study, with 205 junior high school students (43 of whom were gifted), found that gifted students perceived fewer career barriers than did regular students and that gifted boys expressed a greater need for occupational information and a greater range of occupational aspirations than did gifted girls or nongifted students. (Author/DB)

To determine aspects of the attitudinal dimension of vocational maturity among rural disadvantaged girls and boys of eastern Kentucky, samples of Grade 8 and 12 students were administered the: (1) Vocational Development Inventory-Attitude Scale, (2) Occupational Aspiration Scale, (3) California Test of Mental Maturity and the Otis-Lennon Mental…

A study charted family, school, workplace, and community experiences that are relevant to the vocational development of high school students, focusing on five areas of influence: allowance practices within the family, economic status, paid work experience, volunteerism, and gender differences. The data were from the "Youth Development…

This book reports on the Youth Development Study, which followed young people for more than a decade in St. Paul, MN, focusing on work experiences during high school. Chapter one, "Should Adolescents Work" discusses historical and contemporary studies, gender differences, controversies, and the cases for and against adolescent work.…