Racial Differences in the Evolution of Educational and Occupational Aspirations.

Nationally representative longitudinal data on 2548 white men and 822 black men aged 15-24 in 1966 were used to assess changes in aspirations and attainment between 1966 and 1971. Occupational as well as educational level was considered. Predictions that aspirations would be lowered when men failed to advance in educational level over a one year period and that they would increase on the average when men increased in educational level over a one year period were not borne out. There was little change and it occurred equally for all educational transition groups. When the men were classified according to three levels of ability and three levels of socioeconomic status, the following was observed: (1) low ability and low SES groups increased educational aspirations slightly over the five year period; (2) average differences between the SES and ability groups in aspiration and attainment levels were all large; (3) educational and occupational aspirations were higher among blacks than among whites of the same SES and ability level; (4) occupational attainments were slightly lower for blacks; and (5) the racial differences in apsirations, and particularly in attainments, were not large compared to the differences found by SES and ability. (Author/RLV)