Abstract copyright UK Data Service and data collection copyright owner.The main object of this three part study was to identify social and psychological factors relating to the careers of highly qualified young men and women in Britain. It aimed to contribute to an understanding of the development process of occupational career aspirations in the two sexes. Designed as a simulated longitudinal study, the research was concerned with 3 important stages in the lives of these young people: at about the age of 18, when they are on the point of leaving the sixth form; on graduation from university; and at eight years after graduation, when most are about thirty.
Main Topics:
Attitudinal/Behavioural Questions Areas covered in the survey were the development of career conceptions (ambitions at various periods in life, occupations considered at various periods, guidance sought and offered in forming career ambitions, parental attitudes to work and university education), a choice between scholastic achievement and personal popularity at various periods of life, career and educational aspirations now and at various periods in past, present occupation and salary, employment history with reasons for changes, and the relationship between work and family commitments. A further series of questions concerns men's and women's rates, activities, own and parental attitudes towards marriage and children, religious and political beliefs, division of labour within household, family background (including parental attitudes, work history and relationships), friendship patterns and membership in professional organisations and a final section on marriage and parenthood (including marital history, relationships, general and specific views about children and effect children have on home situation and work possibilities). Background Variables University or college attended, sex, age, country of birth, type of secondary school attended, marital status, current living accommodation, major field of study, amount of time spent on paid and unpaid work, 'A' level achievements, level of degree, further educational background and reasons for obtaining further degrees.
Those persons in Kelsall's sample who agreed to take part in a further survey plus a sub-sample of
Postal survey
