Sex differences in educational aspirations of Newfoundland youth: the effects of family, school and community variables

Coffin, Susan Dianne (1975) Sex differences in educational aspirations of Newfoundland youth: the effects of family, school and community variables. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

A study was conducted consisting of all Newfoundland grade eleven high school students who planned on attending a post-secondary school the following year. The purpose of the study was to ascertain the extent to which certain factors within the school, family, and community served as barriers to females attending university, while not to males. -- The data used for this study was taken from a questionnaire issued by the committee for the study of enrollment at Memorial University. -- A causal model was set up linking the variables to each other. The dependent variables in the model were program of study, self-concept of academic ability, occupational expectation, and probability of attending university. Twenty- one hypotheses were derived in keeping with the purpose of the study. In order to test these, a number of analyses were conducted. At the outset, a regression procedure was used to help choose the variables that were the best predictors of each dependent variable. Spady's measure of association was then utilized to obtain a measure of the strength of the relationship between two variables. In addition, Davies' procedure was used to determine the significance of the difference between two percentages. -- The findings revealed that males and females were not influenced by the same factors in their decision to attend university. In addition, certain factors within the family and school, served as barriers to a female making plans to attend university. It was found that the family served more as a positive influence on a male's program of study than a female's. Also, father's occupation, a proxy for family finances was more of an influence on females than males. A female expecting a high occupation needed a higher self-concept and program of study than did a male expecting the same level of occupation. -- It was concluded that there is inequality of educational opportunity for females in Newfoundland. Females were found to suffer from barriers that were not present for males.

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