Date Approved

5-9-2000

Embargo Period

9-14-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in School Psychology

Department

Educational Services and Leadership

College

College of Education

Advisor

Dihoff, Roberta

Subject(s)

Sex role in the work environment; Stereotypes (Social psychology); Vocational guidance; High school students--Attitudes

Disciplines

Educational Psychology

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to see if students' occupational career choices were gender role stereotyped. The subjects making up this study were from a middle/upper class suburban area located in southern New Jersey. 192 subjects in fifth grade, 201 subjects in eighth grade, and 280 subjects in twelfth grade participated in this study. The percentage of males and females for each grade was close to a 50% split. This study was conducted using a survey, which asked the subjects what their choice for a career was at that time. Choices were compared to a listing of careers from the Statistical Abstract of the United States. Any occupation that had 70% or higher of one sex making up its workforce was considered stereotyped for that sex. Three types of non-parametric tests were used; a Binomial test, a 2-Independent samples t-test, and a K-Independent samples t-test, to determine significance among choice, gender, and grade level. Findings of this study suggested that there was no significance among overall choice and grade level, but that there was significance among gender.

Download

Share

COinS