Abstract
This thesis investigates the subjective factors which motivate and influence occupational
aspiration of high school youth. An alternative model is presented, which shows the filtering
effect that subjective experiences have upon background characteristics. The study utilizes
univariate, bivariate and multivariate analysis of data from the Educational Longitudinal Study
(ELS): 2002, which is a nationally representative sample of high school tenth graders (N=6928).
Findings suggest that socioeconomic status has both a direct and indirect effect on aspiration,
high school boys have higher occupational aspiration levels than high school girls, and that
higher educational aspiration leads to higher occupational aspiration.
