Religiosity and ambition : an extension to a contemporary sociological model

Watson, Daina M.(Daina Magda) (1978) Religiosity and ambition : an extension to a contemporary sociological model. Masters thesis, Memorial University of Newfoundland.

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Abstract

This study deals with the ambition formation process of Newfoundland youth. Socioeconomic status, family size, program enrollment, and self-concept of academic ability, factors traditionally used in models of this process, are related to educational and occupational expectations. The extension to the model is provided by the addition of a hitherto unexamined variable--religiosity. Religiosity, defined as "self-perceived strength of religious belief" is assumed to reflect the value orientation of the adolescent to religion. Two separate models are considered: (1) the examination of educational expectations and occupational expectations as separate outcomes; and (2) the examination of educational expectations and occupational expectations as an aggregate measure called ambition. These models are analysed using path analysis and total causal effect analysis for the total sample, for males and for females. -- Religiosity is found to have a significant direct effect on the development of self-concept of academic ability. The addition of religiosity to the model of the ambition formation process increases its explanatory power. The significant factors in this model are found to differ for males and for females.

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