Factors and Events that Influenced the Occupational Behavior Patterns of 1978-1988 Pennsylvania Home Economics Education Graduates.

A study sought to determine what factors and events have influenced the occupational behavior patterns of 1977-1978 Pennsylvania home economics education graduates. The study examined how women graduates of the traditionally female field of home economics education have experienced labor force participation over the past 10 years. Home economics education has suffered the largest decline and has the largest percentage of females within the educational field. As a result, the difficulty in recruiting qualified home economics teachers in Pennsylvania may result in program elimination. Using triangulation of methodologies, archival information, document questionnaires, and interviews, data were analyzed to identify occupational influences. Data were examined in three phases: (1) the transition of the Pennsylvania public educational system; (2) the transition of the Pennsylvania home economics education field; and (3) the occupational behavior patterns of Pennsylvania home economics graduates. An examination of phase one and two data, collected from archives and an open-ended survey, revealed a decline in enrollments, programs, and numbers of teachers teaching during this time period. Phase three data were collected from a mailed follow-up survey with an overall response rate of 56.9%. Among the respondents, 69% lived in Pennsylvania and were included in the final sample (N=128). Several factors were found to have influenced behavioral patterns: marital status, education, family status, age, the oversupply of graduates in 1978, the 1982 recession, deteriorating statewide economy, and loss of state leadership in home economics education. (30 references) (NLA)