Research demonstrates correlations between the sensing-intuitive dimension of psychological type as interpreted by the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) (Myers 1985) and science-related career choices. Alarming decreases in science-related career interests prompted this study which employed psychological type theory to investigate relationships between teaching strategies preferences of Indiana high school biology teachers and science-related attitudes of their academically-talented students. The purpose was to learn if good biology teachers instill positive attitudes within the context of the sensing-intuitive dimension by adapting teaching strategies to match the psychological type composition of their classes and therefore inspire students to pursue science-related careers. Teacher and student psychological type was determined by the MBTI. Teaching style preferences of 20 exemplary teachers and 16 randomly-selected teachers related to their 722 academically-talented students were explored by the Biology Teaching Strategies Inventory developed by the researcher. This instrument contained 40 forced-choice items with paired sensing and intuitive activities written to reflect sound biological conceptual themes from BSCS recommendations. An ANOVA determined that neither teacher group appeared to be adapting teaching strategies. Both teacher groups preferred teaching strategies corresponding to their own psychological type, sensing or intuitive, even when they were to select strategies to use with their specific classes.Science-related attitudes of 338 academically-talented students of 10 exemplary and 16 randomly-selected teachers were examined by seven scales of the Test of Science-related Attitudes (TOSRA) (Barry Fraser 1981). A covariant analysis of student science-related attitudes coupled with student variables of Psychological type (sensing and intuitive), career choice, gender, and socio-economic level indicated statistically significant differences in attitude scores of students of both teacher groups: females of exemplary teachers scored almost as high as males of both teacher groups on enjoyment of science learning and science leisure interests, sensing males of higher socio-economic levels had very low attitudes on adoption of scientific attitudes, females of both teacher groups had more positive attitudes than males on normality of scientists, students of exemplary teachers choosing biology-related careers had lower scores than students with similar career choices of randomly-selected teachers. Intuitive students had more positive attitudes than sensing students on all TOSRA scales. / Department of Biology

Canada's volunteer military faces a major manning problem. High attrition rates reflect youth indifference to military service, and research indicates that the manpower pool from which recruits are drawn will shrink significantly in the next two decades, exacerbating an already difficult situation. / This thesis reports on the first part of a two phase study investigating some of the variables and the dynamics underlying training attrition. In this phase three personality inventories, Holland's Vocational Preference Inventory (VPI), Levenson's Locus of Control Scale (LCS), and Super's Work Values Inventory (WVI) were related to four discrete categories of attrition and to several composite attrition criteria. In addition, Holland's personality-environment congruence hypothesis was tested. / Two distinct samples were used: military recruits, and their supervising Non-Commissioned Officers (NCOs). The recruit sample consisted of 795, 17-25 year old, males who successfully completed Canadian Forces Basic Training without being recoursed, as well as 185 recruits grouped into four discrete and three composite attrition categories. The NCO sample consisted of the 30 Squad NCOs in charge of training the recruit sample. / Both recruit and NCO samples were administered questionnaires prior to the start of training. The questionnaires, contained the personality inventories indicated, as well as measures of variables to be analyzed in the second phase of this study. / Statistical analysis was carried out using (chi)('2), ANOVA, and point biserial corrrelations. Since this was a field study, the level of significance utilized was p < .05. / Three of four hypotheses were supported: (a) Recruits who share congruent LCS personality types with their Squad NCO and the modal squad personality type had lower attrition rates, supporting Holland's congruency hypothesis. (b) As a group, recruits with Realistic, Investigative and Conventional personality types, were more congruent with the squad environments, and exhibited significantly less attrition than Artistic, Social and Enterprising types, supporting the congruency hypothesis, and the use of Holland's theory in the analysis of vocational change. (c) A postulated difference in attrition between LCS personality types, Internals, Externals-Chance and External-Powerful Others, was not supported by the data. However, recruits in one of the composite attrition categories scored significantly higher on the External-Chance sub-scale of Levenson's LCS, suggesting poorer adaptation among those who believe that chance has a controlling effect on their lives. (d) Several work values were negatively correlated with the various attrition categories, possibly an outcome of the modal "blue collar" orientation of the sample. However, the "life style" value correlated positively with those who were passing and requested release and the "surroundings" value correlated positively with those who were failing and requested release, suggesting a consistent relationship between certain work values and attrition categories. / Overall results confirm the usefulness of utilizing multiple, discrete, and composite attrition criteria and of investigating attrition from a micro-environmental perspective. The study also supports Holland's personality-environment congruence hypothesis, and suggests a consistent relationship between personality variables and attrition.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the work values of female adolescents from traditional and nontradItional career families. This was accomplished by administering the Work Values Inventory (WVI) and a personal data fonn to 528 tenth grade females in six secondary schools in Virginia. The schools represented an approximately equal proportion of black and white females and rural arid urban geographic locations. Useable data was collected from 527 females. The services of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University were used to analyze the data, construct rank-order profiles of the subjects' scores, and test for significance among the variables. The following conclusions were drawn: (1) The work values of female adolescents from traditional and nontraditional career families are similar. In addition, parental educational level and geographic location of the female adolescents from traditional and nontraditional career families appear to be of little consequence in their assessed work values; (2) Black female adolescents scored higher than white females on eleven of the fifteen work values scales and black females placed more importance on intrinsic work values than on the extrinsic values; and (3) The overall responses of the female adolescents reflected higher mean scores than Super (1970) noted in 1968 for a similar group. The Altruism value now ranked seventh as compared to second in 1968. In addition, Achievement, Security, and Economic Returns showed higher rankings than in the 1968 study. Some implications concluded from this study may be of interest to career development researchers, theorists, and career counselors. First, it is apparent that the female adolescents have similar work values, regardless of the mothers' and fathers' employment status, perhaps dispelling some sex role myths that females from nontraditional career families model their mothers, thus establishing different work values than females from traditional career homes. Secondly, the differences detected in work values of black and white female adolescents should serve as a basis for future research concerning the influences of the family on work values as a function of race. Finally, the assumption that daughters use their mothers as role models is questionable in reference to work values. In addition, female adolescents are now interested in the nontraditional stereotyped work values of Security, Achievement, and Economic Returns. / Ed. D.

The population of this study was that of an urban school district located in the District of Columbia. Eight intact fourth, fifth, sixth, tenth, and twelfth grade classes were selected to participate in the study. The primary purpose of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of a career guidance program on the career maturity and self-esteem of a selected group of students and to assess the perception of the parents and students toward the program. The secondary purpose of the study was to determine the relationship of selected variables (gender, grade, CTBS test scores (math and reading on the elementary level), and socio-economic status to the career maturity and self-esteem of the students. The experimental group participated in a four month career guidance program using the National Career Development Guidelines as the standards for program development. A week prior to the beginning of the career guidance sessions, data were gathered using the Individual Student Profile, Crites' Attitude Scale and Coopersmith's Self-Esteem Inventory. The experimental groups were exposed to a Career Guidance Program of fifty minute sessions during a period of four months. The whole class sessions included guidance activities that focused on self-awareness, career exploration, and career planning for the future. The data collected for the study were coded numerically and then compiled by a computer software programming (Number Cruncher Statistical System). The significance of the difference between the groups on the Career Maturity and Self-Esteem Inventories was determined by using the t-test for independent samples and the Pearson correlation Coefficient techniques for relationship between pairs of dependent measures. The findings derived from analysis of the data revealed that: (a) fourth, fifth, sixth, and twelfth graders of the experimental group scored significantly higher in self-esteem and career maturity as compared to their counterparts of the control group; (b) tenth graders of the experimental group did not score significantly different in self-esteem and career maturity as compared to their counterparts of the control group; (c) subjects with higher level of self-esteem scored significantly higher on career maturity as compared to subjects who had lower level of self-esteem; (d) gender, age, socio-economic, and reading and math skills were not significant factors on self-esteem of the participating subjects as a result of the short-term career guidance program; (e) a majority of the subjects who participated in the short-term career guidance program showed positive attitudes toward the overall effectiveness of the program; and (f) a majority of the parents reported to observe improvement in their children's self-awareness, knowledge of careers, and career planning and decision making skills. / Ed. D.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education

Professional school counselors frequently use career interest inventories as part of a comprehensive guidance program to help students create a post-secondary school plan. The present study evaluates the validity of three commonly used interest inventories, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, Self-Directed Search, and Strong Interest Inventory on field of study choice for graduating high school seniors (N = 616) from a large, suburban high school in Texas. Students identified their intended postsecondary field of study category, were randomly assigned using stratification to three groups, and each group completed a different inventory. Group membership was evaluated to establish covariate balance on a wide variety of indicators. Data from each group was evaluated to determine the extent to which the inventory predicted the chosen field of study, as well as Other and Undeclared categories using logistic regression models. None of the inventory models suggest that the inventory accurately predicts Other or Undeclared outcomes. For students selecting intended postsecondary fields of study, the Self Directed Search predicts such outcomes better than other measures. Professional school and career counselors should consider the SDS in addition to narrative counseling strategies to add greater precision with career decision making among clients and students.

published_or_final_version / Education / Master / Master of Education