A Comparison of the Differential Effect of Ethnicity and Perception of Family Income on Educational Aspirations, Preparation and Parental Influence-Attempts of Indian and Non-Indian Students in Four Rural High Schools in Montana.

Purpose of the study was to investigate the relative impact of family income on the level of educational aspirations and expectations of high school students. Information on educational aspirations and expectations of 119 Native Americans and 304 non-Indian youth attending 4 small rural high schools in Montana was obtained by questionnaire. It was found that 9% fewer Indians than non-Indians aspired to attend 4 years of college, and 10% fewer Indians than non-Indians expected to attend 4 years of college. When grouped by family income, 48% of the high-income Indian students held aspirations for a college degree, but only 33% held the same expectations. Comparable percentages for high-income non-Indian students were 61% and 54%, indicating greater goal deflection among Indian students. There was little difference between the educational aspirations and expectations of low-income Indian and non-Indian students. A related document is RC005683. (LS)