| Abstract: | This research investigates the relationship between education and employment expectations of students and certain easily obtained biographical information. Aspirations to be employed, to earn more than the average person, to finish college, and to work in college teaching are examined separately. The probabilistic response format (What are the chances that . . .?) is found to be more manageable, mathematically more defensible and freer of contamination than traditional formats. Even at Grade 9, males are found to have higher employment expectations than females. However, aspirations "to earn more than average" and "to finish college" show far less difference between males and females. High grade point averages are significantly associated with high expectations among secondary students; no such correlation is found for college students. An interaction between sex and level of parental education is discussed. Males express higher expectations for themselves than those expectations they feel their parents have for them. However, in spite of young persons' exposure to changing cultural roles for women, female students express lower expectations for themselves than those expectations they feel their parents have for them. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved) |
