A Study of the Role of the Community College in the Development of Self- and Occupational-Concepts. Final Report.

This study probes the relative effects of 2-year and 4-year college environments on their students. Using a population of 305 male students who had resided and graduated from public schools in the same county, 195 were randomly selected for the study. These students--68 from a university and 46 liberal arts, 25 technical, and 56 business students from a nearby 2-year junior college--were given a variant (Bingham's Occupational Repertory Test) of the Modified Repertory Test, both at college entrance and 21 months later. Changes in self-esteem, level of incorporation of occupational concepts, and level of incorporation of social role concepts were noted. Statistical analysis of data suggests that: (1) preselection factors were operating in the students' initial program choice; (2) 2-year college students experienced a noticeable increase in self-esteem and identification with higher status occupations, making post-test differences in self-esteem between 4-year and 2-year college students insignificant; (3) the identification between 2-year college students enrolled in occupationally centered programs and their occupation was intensified; and (4) there was little change in the self-esteem or occupational identification of students completing their first two years of university experience. Based on these findings, the effects of the 2-year college environment are seen as particularly significant in developing occupational and self-concepts. (JO)