The Critical Juncture: Educational and Vocational Intentions of Grade 12 Students in Ontario. Follow-Up Survey.

A survey of grade 12 students in Ontario, conducted in spring 1973, sought to identify what factors influence an adolescent's future educational and vocational plans. A followup telephone survey of the same grade 12 students was conducted in November 1973 to evaluate the predictive utility of an "intentions" survey. The objectives of this survey were to ascertain: (1) the present activities of these adolescents; (2) the extent to which these adolescents were acting in accordance with their intentions as stated in spring 1973; (3) what factors distinguish adolescents who act in accord with their intentions or act contrary to their intentions; (4) to what extent adolescents in November 1973 duplicated their response to the question, "Which one statement best describes what you plan to do in the fall of 74?" and, (5) what factors distinguished "consistents" and "inconsistents" relative to question 4. Results indicated that an "intentions" survey is a poor means of predicting individual behaviors but a good device for forecasting aggregate behaviors. A profile of "consistents" and "inconsistents" is included. (Author/HMV)