Factors for and Against Industrialization Among Agricultural Youngsters in the Hilly Region of Israel.

Conducted in the hilly region of Israel in 1969, the purpose of this study was to examine the tendency to choose an industrial occupation among the sons of farmers through 3 viewpoints--the influence of the educational process and atmosphere; the social connotations, the status and prestige, of particular occupations; and the personal knowledge about an occupation and how a person obtained the information. The need for this research arose because of employment problems in areas where the economy is based on agriculture. The 95 participants (aged 20-22) were selected from 14 villages, made up of 40 to 50 families, located close to industrial enterprises. Questionnaires with closed and semi-open questions were administered in personal interviews, and interviews were conducted with plant managers, labor managers, and workers. The study determined that the measure of information which a person had on a chosen field influenced his attitude towards that occupation. A person with a limited knowledge about an occupation tended to display a negative approach towards the occupation. By contrast, the greater the knowledge about the occupation, the more positive the attitude. Persons receiving direct information from the plant or from a relative had a positive approach in contrast to an individual who received indirect information. Generally, the individuals interviewed displayed limited knowledge about the occupations, and this fact possibly explains why few people reach industrial work. (FF)