Skip to main content

The concept of educational aspirations

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The transition at the end of compulsory full-time education

Abstract

Educational aspirations have been studied intensively by diff erent disciplines to explain educational disparities, including psychological, social-psychological, sociological and economic perspectives (Domina et al. 2011; Rojewski 2005). Yet, despite the frequent use of the term ‘educational aspirations’, which is generally used to refer to the educational goals students set for themselves, there is no single and universally accepted definition or common agreement as to what the term means (Lent et al. 1994; Quaglia and Cobb 1996; Rojewski 2005). A variety of terms like plans, decisions or preferences are commonly used – sometimes interchangeably – as they are all essentially viewed as goal terms that primarily differ along dimensions such as the degree of specifi city and proximity to the choice implementation (Lent et al. 1994; Rojewski 2005).

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 29.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 37.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Alexander, K. L., & Cook, M. A. (1979). Th e Motivational Relevance of Educational Plans: Questioning the Conventional Wisdom. Social Psychology Quarterly, 42(3), 202-213.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Armstrong, P. I., & Crombie, G. (2000). Compromises in Adolescents’ Occupational Aspirations and Expectations from Grades 8 to 10. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 56(1), 82-98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1986). Human Agency in Social Cognitive Th eory. American Psychologist, 44(9), 1175-1184.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bandura, A. (1991). Social Cognitive Th eory of Self-Regulation. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 248-287.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beal, S. J., & Crockett, L. J. (2010). Adolescents’ Occupational and Educational Aspirations and Expectations: Links to High School Activities and Adult Educational Attainment. Developmental Psychology, 46(1), 258-265.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Becker, B. (2010). Bildungsaspirationen von Migranten: Determinanten und Umsetzung in Bildungsergebnisse (MZES Working Paper No. 137). Retrieved Febuary 5, 2012, from http://www.mzes.unimannheim.de/publications/wp/wp-137.pdf

  • Bourdieu, P. (1973). Cultural Reproduction and Social Reproduction. In R. K. Brown (Ed.), Knowledge, Education, and Cultural Change: Papers in the Sociology of Education (pp. 71–112). London: Tavistock.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buriel, R., & Cardoza, D. (1988). Sociocultural Correlates of Achievement Among Th ree Generations of Mexican American High School Seniors. American Educational Research Journal, 25(2), 177-192.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Caprara, G. V., Fida, R., Vecchione, M., Del Bove, G., Vecchio, G. M., Barbaranelli, C., & Bandura, A. (2008). Longitudinal Analysis of the Role of Perceived Self-effi cacy for Self-regulated Learning in Academic Continuance and Achievement. Journal of Educational Psychology, 100(3), 525-534.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Coleman, J. S., Campbell, E. Q., Hobson, J. C., McPartland, J., Mood, A. M., Weinfeld, F. D., & York, R. L. (1966). Equality of Educational Opportunity. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Offi ce.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diefenbach, H. (2010). Kinder und Jugendliche aus Migrantenfamilien im deutschen Bildungssystem: Erklärungen und empirische Befunde (3rd ed.). Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaft en.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Domina, T., Conley, A., & Farkas, G. (2011). Th e Link between Educational Expectations and Eff ort in the College-for-all Era. Sociology of Education, 84(2), 93-112.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gottfredson, L. S. (1981). Circumscription and Compromise: A Developmental Th eory of Occupational Aspirations. Journal of Counseling Psychology Monograph, 28(6), 545-579.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gottfredson, L. S. (2005). Applying Gottfredson’s Th eory of Circumscription and Compromise in Career Guidance and Counseling. In S. D. Brown & R. W. Lent (Eds.), Career Development and Counseling: Putting Th eory and Research to Work (pp. 71–100). New Jersey: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goyette, K. A. (2008). College for Some to College for All: Social Background, Occupational Expectations, and Educational Expectations over Time. Social Science Research, 37(2), 461-484.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haller, A. O. (1968). On the Concept of Aspiration. Rural Sociology, 33(4), 484-487.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hanson, S. L. (1994). Lost Talent: Unrealized Educational Aspirations and Expectations among U.S. Youths. Sociology of Education, 67(3), 159-183.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hauser, R. M., & Anderson, D. K. (1991). Post-High School Plans and Aspirations of Black and White High School Seniors: 1976-86. Sociology of Education, 64(4), 263-277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heath, A. F., & Brinbaum, Y. (2007). Guest Editorial: Explaining Ethnic Inequalities in Educational Attainment. Ethnicities, 7(3), 291-304.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heckhausen, J., & Tomasik, M. J. (2002). Get an Apprenticeship Before School is Out: How German Adolescents Adjust Vocational Aspirations When Getting Close to a Developmental Deadline. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 60, 199–219.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jacob, B. A., & Wilder, T. (2010). Educational Expectations and Attainment (NBER Working Paper No. 15683). Retrieved January 26, 2013, from http://www.nber.org/papers/w15683

  • Jæger, M. M. (2007). Economic and Social Returns to Educational Choices: Extending the Utility Function. Rationality and Society, 19(4), 451-483.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jencks, C., Crouse, J., & Mueser, P. (1983). Th e Wisconsin Model of Status Attainment: A National Replication with Improved Measures of Ability and Aspiration. Sociology of Education, 56(1), 3-19.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerckhoff, A. C. (1976). Th e Status Attainment Process: Socialization or Allocation? Social Forces, 55(2), 368-381.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerckhoff, A. C. (1977). Th e Realism of Educational Ambitions in England and the United States. American Sociological Review, 42(4), 563-571.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kerckhoff, A. C., & Campbell, R. T. (1977). Social Status Diff erences in the Explanation of Educational Ambition. Social Forces, 5(3), 701-714.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lent, R. W. (2005). A Social Cognitive View of Career Development and Counseling. In S. D. Brown & R. W. Lent (Eds.), Career Development and Counseling: Putting Th eory and Research to Work (pp. 101–127). New Jersey: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lent, R. W., Brown, S. D., & Hackett, G. (1994). Monograph: Toward a Unifying Social Cognitive Th eory of Career and Academic Interest, Choice, and Performance. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 45, 79–122.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ma, X., & Wang, J. (2001). A Confi rmatory Examination of Walberg’s Model of Educational Productivity in Student Career Aspiration. Educational Psychology, 21(4), 443-453.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Manski, C. F. (2004). Measuring Expectations. Econometrica, 72(5), 1329-1376.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mau, W.-C., & Bikos, L. H. (2000). Educational and Vocational Aspirations of Minority and Female Students: A Longitudinal Study. Journal of Counseling & Development, 78(2), 186-194.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, S. L. (1998). Adolescent Educational Expectations: Rationalized, Fantasized, or Both? Rationality and Society, 10(2), 131-162.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, S. L. (2002). Modeling Preparatory Commitment and Non-Repeatable Decisions: Information-Processing, Preference Formation and Educational Attainment. Rationality and Society, 14(4), 387-429.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, S. L. (2004). Methodologist as Arbitrator: Five Models for Black-White Diff erences in the Causal Eff ect of Expectations on Attainment Sociological Methods & Research, 33(1), 3-53.

    Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, S. L. (2005). On the Edge of Commitment: Educational Attainment and Race in the United States. Stanford, CA: Stanford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ou, S.-R., & Reynolds, A. J. (2008). Predictors of Educational Attainment in the Chicago Longitudinal Study. School Psychology Quarterly, 23(2), 199-229.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Quaglia, R. J., & Cobb, C. D. (1996). Toward a Th eory of Student Aspirations. Journal of Research in Rural Education, 12(3), 127-132.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, J., Stewart, M., MacDonald, R., & Sischo, L. (2006). Have Adolescents Become Too Ambitious? High School Seniors’ Educational and Occupational Plans, 1976 to 2000. Social Problems, 53(2), 186-206.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, J. R., & Johnson, M. K. (2011). Change in the Stratifi cation of Educational Expectations and Th eir Realization. Social Forces, 90(1), 85-110.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rojewski, J. W. (2005). Occupational Aspirations: Constructs, Meanings, and Application. In S. D. Brown & R. W. Lent (Eds.), Career Development and Counseling: Putting Th eory and Research to Work (pp. 131–154). New Jersey: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rojewski, J. W., & Kim, H. (2003). Career Choice Patterns and Behavior of Work-Bound Youth During Early Adolescence. Journal of Career Development, 30(2), 89-108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenbaum, J. E. (1976). Making Inequality: Th e Hidden Curriculum of High School Tracking. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rosenbaum, J. E. (1978). Th e Structure of Opportunity in School. Social Forces, 57(1), 236-256.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenbaum, J. E. (1980). Track Misperceptions and Frustrated College Plans: An Analysis of the Eff ects of Tracks and Track Perceptions in the National Longitudinal Survey. Sociology of Education, 53(2), 74-88.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenbaum, J. E. (2001). Beyond College-for-all: Career Paths for the Forgotten Half. New York: Russell Sage Foundation.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schneider, B. L., & Stevenson, D. (1999). Th e Ambitious Generation: America’s Teenagers, Motivated but Directionless. New Haven: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Spenner, K. I., & Featherman, D. L. (1978). Achievement Ambitions. Annual Review of Sociology, 4, 373–420.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wooldridge, J. M. (2010). Econometric Analysis of Cross Section and Panel Data (2nd ed.). Cambridge: MIT Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang, Y., Haddad, E., Torres, B., & Chen, C. (2011). Th e Reciprocal Relationships Among Parents’ Expectations, Adolescents’ Expectations, and Adolescents’ Achievement: A Two-Wave Longitudinal Analysis of the NELS Data. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40(4), 479-489.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Marina Trebbels .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer Fachmedien Wiesbaden

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Trebbels, M. (2015). The concept of educational aspirations. In: The transition at the end of compulsory full-time education. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-06241-5_3

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-06241-5_3

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer VS, Wiesbaden

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-658-06240-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-658-06241-5

  • eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Science (German Language)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics