Abstract

This study examined how well specific structural variables and social psychological variables served to explain occupational aspirations and expectations of a rural, low-income sample, during preadolescence, adolescence and young adulthood. These periods approximate the fantasy, tentative, and realism stages in the occupational choice process as identified by Ginzberg and his associates. Initially, status projection scores were examined to assess the salience of Ginzberg's theory. Then the influence of academic motivation and educational plans on the occupational aspirations, expectations and plans of preadolescent and adolescent youth in the sample were evaluated after the effects of sex, race, IQ, and family background were accounted for by preordered multiple regression analysis. A final step was completed by analysis of the sample at young adulthood. For this period, occupational aspirations, expectations and plans were assessed with respect to the influence of the aforementioned structural variables with the addition of educational attainment and the single attitudinal variable of achievement value orientation.

How to Cite:

Farris, M. C., Boyd, J. C. & Shoffner, S. M., (1985) “Longitudinal Determinants of Occupational Plans of Low-Income Rural Young Adults”, Journal of Research in Rural Education 3(2), 61–67.

Rights: Copyright