Factors influencing agricultural education students' educational and career choices

The purpose of the study was to identify factors that influence the career choice behaviors of students who graduated from an urban agricultural high school. A secondary purpose was to identify factors that discriminate between individuals who choose careers and education in agriculture and those who do not.;The population for the study included all students who graduated from an urban agricultural high school in Pennsylvania between 1992 and 1995. A four-part survey instrument was developed to collect the data. Data were obtained relative to the amount of education completed, individuals influencing former students' decision to attend an agricultural high school, pursue a postsecondary education, and career choice; events or experiences that influenced former students to attend an agricultural high school, decision to choose or not choose postsecondary education in agriculture, and to choose or not choose a career in agriculture; self-esteem; and demographic data. Usable responses were returned by 24% of the former students.;Findings from the study revealed that former students' parent or guardian as the individual who most influenced their decision to attend an agricultural high school, although mother or female guardian had more influence than the father or male guardian. Recruitment events, an interest in animals, agricultural career aspirations, and parents accounted for more than 50% of the events and experiences which influenced their decision to attend an agricultural high school.;The former students indicated parents as the individuals who most influenced their decision to pursue a postsecondary education although mother or female guardian had slightly more influence than the father or male guardian. Interestingly, males indicated that a friend had more influence on their decision to pursue a postsecondary education than their mother or female guardian and their father or male guardian. The former students who chose a postsecondary education in agriculture indicated an interest in agriculture, personal factors, events and experiences classified as other, job opportunities, and limited job opportunities most influenced their decision to pursue a postsecondary education in agriculture, while former students who did not choose a postsecondary education in agriculture cited a lack of interest, events and experiences classified as other, and personal factors.;The former students in the study indicated their parents and a friend as the individuals who most influenced their choice of a career. The events and experiences reported by former students who chose a career in agriculture focused around several themes which included career opportunities, high school educational experiences, and work experiences. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).