This report describes patterns of continuity and change over time in four areas of the transition to adulthood among young adults as measured 2 years after their senior year of high school. The four areas are postsecondary enrollment, labor force roles, family formation, and civic engagement through voting or military service. The analysis…

The different preferences for occupational roles and college majors of the recent college graduates in this study account for one-third to two-thirds of the gender differences in earnings three years after graduation. The implications for estimating labor market discrimination are discussed. (SK)

Overall, college graduates' earnings increased compared to high school graduates' in the 1980s. For men, skills acquired before college had not effect on the increase; for women, returns to math ability rose considerably. For men, the trend away from such subjects as education and toward engineering accounted for one-fourth of the rise in relative…

Recent reports have confirmed that boys, not girls, are increasingly on the unfavorable side of the gender gap in education and developmental matters. This paper provides an analysis of trends in the gender gap among students in Catholic and public schools during the period from 1972 to 1992 for a select set of variables. Although the gender gap…

Analysis of data from 3,309 National Longitudinal Survey participants showed that high school academic and vocational curriculum, college, and graduate school significantly affected earnings; the magnitude was greater for men. Occupational and industrial sector also influenced earnings; the magnitude was greater for women. (SK)

Comparison of National Longitudinal Study data for 1972 and 1980 high school senior agriculture students showed considerable increases in female and Black enrollment, no change in academic ability as indicated by standardized test scores, and changes in occupational aspiration (a trend toward female-dominant occupations). (SK)

Data drawn from the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 and follow-up surveys through 1979 were used to explore career and educational patterns of two groups of women: those who received their high school education in rural areas and remained, and those who left for larger communities. Over 40% of the sample were…

Although a number of studies have been conducted to examine the status attainment process, very few have focused on differences in educational attainment for black, white, and Hispanic females. The primary purpose of this study was to test predictive models of attainment for these subgroups. Variables considered potentially important to the…

Virtually no research conducted on women and mathematics is longitudinal in scope, generalizable in extent, and ethnic-race specific in nature. This descriptive study begins to fill the gap by examining the effects of background, school, and social-psychological factors on Hispanic, black, and white women's mathematics attainments. Data for the…

Declining birth rates in the 1960s have caused some to forecast shortages of new scientists and engineers by the end of this decade. Students in national longitudinal studies begun in 1972 and 1980 were compared, and it was concluded that a decline in the supply of engineers and scientists is unlikely. (Author/MLW)

Analysis of data from the National Longitudinal Study, High School Class of 1972 found that (1) men and Blacks received more on-the-job training than women and Whites; (2) postsecondary education and aptitude had a positive effect; (3) high school curriculum did not affect training; and (4) training was affected by verbal, math, and clerical job…

A causal framework was used to explore factors that influence the enrollment of four-year college students in the hard and technical sciences (math, science, engineering) and the professions (pre-law, medicine, dentistry). The factors studied were family status, standardized test performance, high school rank, educational expectations, high school…

Information from the National Longitudinal Study (1972 seniors), the High School and Beyond Study (1980 seniors and sophomores) and the Postsecondary Education Transcript Study (1984) is analyzed to compare the patterns of enrollment, persistence, and attainment among these groups from their high school graduation until 1986. Subgroups by sex,…

Project S-114 (1977-1983) consisted of three objectives which dealt with rural Southern youth and focused on educational and occupational aspirations and attainment results for males and females, blacks and whites. Each objective involved utilization of a distinct dataset. In 1979 Objective 1 was completed; the fourth wave of a longitudinal panel…

Data from the National Longitudinal Study of the High School Class of 1972 and both cohorts of the 1980 High School and Beyond study were used to analyze trends in postsecondary educational attainment since 1972. The report contains information on educational attainment beyond high school and group differences by sex, high school type, race or…