A203870 PDF

Technical Report 814
o The Career Decision Survey:

Modeling the Army Enlistment Decision
0
0
Michael J. Wilson and M. Shelley Perry
I Westat, Inc.
Manpower and Personnel Policy Research Group

Manpower and Personnel Research Laboratory
DTlC
I JAN 1989 D
U.S. Army
Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences
October 1988
Approved for public mlem; dilsbutlon Isunlimiltd.
89 1 31 010
U.S. ARMY RESEARCH INSTITUTE
FOR THE BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
A Field Operating Agency Under the Jurisdiction

of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel
EDGAR M. JOHNSON JON W. BLADES

Technical Director COLaIN
Commianding
Research accomplished under contract
for the Department of the Army
PAR Government Systems Corp.
Technical review by
Curtis L. Gilroy
Douglas A. McLiverty
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11. TITLE (Incluoe Secuny Cauicavon)
The Career Decision Survev: Modeling the Army Enlistment Decision

12. PERSONAL AUTHOR(S)
Wilson. M. J., and Perry, M. S. (Westat, Inc.
13a. TYPE OF REPORT 13b. TIME COVERED 14. DATE OF REPORT (y
VafrnXM%,D. 15. PAGE COUNT
Final FROM 12/87 To 3/88 1988, October 73
16. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTATION
This research was performed under subcontract from PAR by Westat, Inc., 1650 Research Blvd.,
Rockville, ED. This research was technically monitored by Timothy W. Elig of ART.
17. COSATI COOES 16. SUBJECT TERMS (Cononue on rewrw ifnecessry and inufy by block number)
FIELD GROUP SUB-GROUP Career decision Enlistment intentions
05 09 1 - Enlistment decision
09 -
19. ABSTRACT (Conar.e on rewn. if neceamry an ianc by block numer)
'- This technical report documents results from the Career Decision Survey. This survey
was developed as a theory-based instrument designed to validate an application of Fishbein
and AJzen's (1975) psychological theory of reasoned action. As applied to career choice,
this theory hypothesizes a direct relationship between the beliefs youths have regarding
a particular career choice and their attitude toward the career. This attitude, in turn,
directly influences intention to pursue the career. In addition, the theory states that
career intentions are strongly influenced by the opinions of s'ignificant social influ-
encers (a.g., parents). Findings validate and support the adoption of this theory as a
useful perspective for analyzing Army enlistment intentions.
Using individual respondent beliefs and perceptions alone, this model explained
between 46Z and 61% of the observed variance in career choice intentions. That is,
(Continued)
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1.ABSTRACT)(Continued)
using a relatively small numaber of questions that asked youths about their
belief s and opinions and those of persons important to them, the models
were able to very accurately predict career intentions.
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Technical Report 814
The Career Decision Survey:

Modeling the Army Enlistment Decision
Michael J. Wilson and M. Shelley Perry

Westat, Inc.
for
Contracting Officer's Representative

Timothy W. Elig
Manpower and Personnel Policy Research Group

Curtis L. Gilroy, Chief
Manpower and Personnel Research Laboratory

Newell K. Eaton, Director
U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences
5001 Eisenhower Avenue, Alexandria, Virginia 22333-5600
Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel

Department of the Army
October 1988
Army Project Number Manpower, Personnel, and Training

20162722A791
Approved for public release distribution unlimited.
i
FOREWORD
This report documents work completed during the second phase

of a project undertaken by the Army Research Institute (ARI) in
support of theOffice of the Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel
(ODCSPER) and U.S. Army Recruiting Command (USAREC). ARI was
commissioned by ODCSPER in 1982 to identify the motives
underlying the enlistment decision. ARI's initial efforts-were
concentrated on enlistment motives of new recruits--the New
Recruit Surveys (NRS) that have now been institutionalized by
USAREC. Concurrent with the advanced development of the NRS,
ARI has been working on exploratory development of new
quantitative instruments for measuring the factors involved in
the career decision process of prospective recruits.
In the first phase of the project, new instruments were
developed and pilot tested. The second phase involved a
nationwide data collection to validate the new instruments.
Results of the nationwide data collection were briefed to the
Chief of Accession Policy (ODCSPER) and to the Program Analysis
and Evaluation and the Advertising and Sales Promotion
Directorates of USAREC in October 1988. Findings will be used
by USAREC and ODCSPER to improve target marketing and assist
recruiting efforts.
E.ZM JHN PN
Technical Director
1J V
- - - -r. - . .
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The Career Decision Survey required the collaborative par-

ticipation of many individuals and institutions. Dr. Rebecca
Pliske provided the initial idea and structure for this project
and guided its initial phases. Dr. Len Adelman translated
decision-making theories into the enlistment decision context,
and Dr. Mary Kralj provided necessary supervision during the
exploratory stage of this research.
Extensive conceptual and operational support was extended by

the U.S. Army Recruiting Command personnel in refining sample
frame definition and assembly issues. CPT (P) Douglass McLiverty
provided the necessary direct support in assembling the sampling
frame. Dr. Michael Benedict also helped in obtaining the sample
frame.
Acknowledgment is also made of the recruiters who took the

time to provide precisely defined portions of their Lead Refine-
ment Lists and survey respondents. Finally, the assistance of
the Phase II technical monitor, Dr. Timothy W. Elig, provided
significant directions regarding both the course of analyses pur-
sued and the content of this report.
MICHAEL J. WILSON
M. SHELLEY PERRY
vi
f
THE CAREER DECISION SURVEY: MODELING THE ARMY ENLISTMENT

DECISION
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Requirement:
To develop new quantitative instruments and models for de-

termining the social and psychological factors influencing young
adults' enlistment decisions.
Procedure:
Data on new quantitative measures of career behaviors and

decisions were collected from a sample of young Americans. These
data were collected and analyzed to validate models of the en-
listment decision process, not to provide information on a repre-
sentative sample of American youth.
The Career Decision Survey was mailed to 6,011 young men and
women. The sampling frame was constructed from two sources. The
first source consisted of a systematic sample of names contained
on Lead Refinement Lists maintained by Army recruiting stations
across the United States. The second source was a sample frame
of a nationally administered commercial telephone survey of
households.
Sample members were sent prenotification letters explaining

the purpose of the study, followed by three waves of question-
naires mailed to sample members' homes. A reminder postcard was
sent between the first and second questionnaire waves. Each sur-
vey mailing wave was staggered by approximately 1 month.
Completed surveys were received from 1,046 respondents.
This relatively low response rate of 19.7% and the nature of the
primary sampling frames imply that descriptive findings should
not be projected to the national population of 17- to 20-year-
olds. However, the sample is sufficient for modeling, the objec-
tive of the effort.
Data were analyzed in three stages. First, data quality was

assessed. Second, descriptive summaries of respondent character-
istics and survey responses were generated. Finally, the deci-
sion modeling of career options was performed.
vii
Findings:
The Career Decision Survey effort successfully obtained data
for validation of an enlistment decision model. Analysis re-
vealed that respondents' career intentions and career search be-
haviors actively considered Army enlistment.
This psychological model of career intentions was tested
using confirmatory regression analysis and was found to explain
between 46% and 61% of variance in respondent career intentions.
That is, using a relatively small number of questions that asked
youths about their beliefs and opinions and those of persons im-
portant to them, the models were able to accurately predict
career intentions.
Utilization of Findings:
The decision model developed in this report has implications
for messages conveyed by Army advertising and recruiters. For
example, in the formation of attitudes toward Army enlistment,
beliefs regarding future job security and career advancement,
along with those concerning salary and satisfaction with working
conditions, play a central role. Youth are obviously future-
oriented and concerned with the conditions of service. As a re-
sult, changes in attitudes toward Army enlistment would best be
accomplished by stressing future dividends and the benefits of
Army life rather than patriotic themes.
The results also suggest that advertising targeted to influ-
encers might prove very effective. Influencers, in fact, were at
least as strong a factor in determining career intentions as per-
sonal attitudes and, in several cases, a stronger determinant.
Consequently, advertising directed toward changing negative or
reinforcing positive opinions of influencers may well yield re-
sults equal to or greater than advertising aimed at potential
prospects.
viii
THE CAREER DECISION SURVEY: MODELING THE ARMY ENLISTMENT
DECISION
CONTENTS
Page
INTRODUCTION ............ ........................ 1
Enlistment Decision Project ........ ............. 1
Modeling the Army Enlistment Decision ..... ......... 3
METHODS ............. .......................... 6
Sample Frames and Sample Selection ...... ........... 6
Sample Respondents ........ .. ................... 7
Procedures ................ ............. 9
Limitations of the Career Decision Survey ........ 12
Questionnaire ........ ...................... 13
RESULTS .......... .......................... 17

Career Search Behaviors ...... ................. . 17
Modeling Career Intentions ..... ............... . 25
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS .... .............. 39
REFERENCES ......................... 41
APPENDIX A. THE CAREER DECISION SURVEY ... .......... A-i
LIST OF TABLES
Table 1. Sample sizes for the LRL and secondary sample
frames ........... ...................... 7
2. Survey sample subgroup counts and percentages 8
3. Survey sample respondent counts and rates . ... 12
4, Count and percentage of youth positively

pursuing Army enlistment .... ............. .. 18
5. Count and percentage of youth positively
pursuing college enrollment .. ........... . 19
6. Count and percentage of youth positively
pursuing obtaining full-time employment ..... 20
ix
CONTENTS (Continued)
Page
Table 7. Unaided career intentions for Fall, 1988, of
youth (first and second mentions combined) . . . . 23
8. Counts and percentages of youth responding
definitely or probably to intended behaviors
for Fall, 1988 ....... ..................... 24
9. Factor analysis of evaluations ... ............. 26
10. Factor analysis of Army beliefs questions . . .. 27

11. Factor analysis of college beliefs questions . . . 28
12. Factor analysis of job beliefs questions ..... .. 29
13. Means, standard deviations and intercorrelations

of variables in Army enlistment career model . 31
of variables in college enrollment career model 32
of variables in job obtainment career model . . . 33
16. Regression equations for models of intention to
enlist in Army ....... ..................... 35
attend college ....... ..................... 36
obtain a job ........ ..................... 37
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure 1. Schematic representation of the theory of

reasoned action ........ ................. 5
2. Distribution of respondents by educational
and employment status ....... .............. 10
x
THE CAREER DECISION SURVEY:
MODELING THE ARMY ENLISTMENT DECISION
INTRODUCTION
Each year the Army must recruit large numbers of young

people in order to fulfill its manpower requirements. To attract
the most qualified applicants, the Army offers a variety of
incentives including starting salaries competitive with the
private sector of the economy, cash enlistment bonuses, and
assistance in financing recruits' post-service education. The
Army's personnel planners allocating the monies for these
recruiting incentives rely primarily on economic models of
military accessions. Recent research (Gilroy, 1986; Hosek &
Peterson, 1986; Pliske, Elig, & Johnson, 1986) has shown that in
addition to the pecuniary variables typically included in
economic models, psychological and sociological factors play a
significant role in the enlistment decision of young people.
Enlistment Decision Project

The Career Decision Survey is part of an effort to evaluate
the role of these factors in the enlistment decision processes of
young Americans. The primary objectives of this project,
Modeling the Individual Enlistment Decision, are:
(1) To develop and validate a model (or models) of the
individual enlistment decision process which identifies
those factors influencing the decision (including
economic, psychological, and sociological, as
appropriate); and
(2) To quantify the factors influence on the decision-
making process.
If warranted by the validation of the model(s) through a national
survey effort, the measurement instruments could then be used to
develop decision aids for recruiters working with individuals
considering Army enlistment. Validated measurement instruments
and enlistment decision models should also prove useful in future
research on how to improve Army recruitment policies in areas
such as advertising and incentive management.
Three tasks were accomplished during Phase I of this
project:
(1) A literature review was conducted on decision models
relevant to the individual enlistment decision process
(Zirk, McTeigue, Wilson, Adelman, & Pliske, 1987);
1
(2) Empirical data were collected to assess the pre-
decisional processes involved in the enlistment
decision (McTeigue, Kralj, Adelman, Zirk, & Wilson,
1987); and
(3) A quantitative measurement instrument was designed for
use in the assessment of the individual enlistment
decision process (Kralj, Adelman, Wilson, McTeigue, &
Zirk, 1987).
Literature covering rational decision approaches as well as
affective, social, and cognitive approaches were reviewed. In
addition, career decision-making and consumer decision-making
research were reviewed to assess their potential relevance for
modeling the individual decision process. Based on this review
(Zirk et al., 1987), we adopted Fishbein and Ajzen's theory of
reasoned action (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975; Ajzen & Fishbein, 1980)
as the theoretical framework for modeling the individual
enlistment decision-making process.
Focus groups were conducted to collect data on the
predecisional processes involved in the enlistment decision.
This was done to identify critical factors influencing an
individual's enlistment decision. To this end, focus groups were
conducted in five major metropolitan areas with young people 17
to 20 years of age. Focus group sessions were video and
audiotaped and later transcribed and analyzed to identify the
critical factors influencing career decision-making of the
participants. Results indicated that these young people did
indeed consider both monetary and non-monetary factors in
reaching decisions about their careers. The results of the focus
groups are described by McTeigue et al. (1987).
The design and development of the survey questionnaire based
upon these findings were reported by Kralj et al. (1987). Also
see Pliske and Adelman (1983) for a discussion of related
developmental efforts. Prior to completion of a draft
instrument, pretests were conducted to assess the adequacy of the
instrument's component parts. Pilot instruments were developed
and pretested on three occasions using volunteers between the
ages of 17 and 20.
Phase II of the Enlistment Decision Project involved the

collection and analysis of survey data. The Career Decision
Survey Technical Manual (Wilson & Perry, 1968) provides technical
documentation for the 1987 Career Decision Survey and for
Phase II of the Enlistment Decision Project.
In the remainder of this introduction we describe the
theoretical model upon which the survey was developed. The
second section of this report is a brief summary of the survey
methods and data. We then report the results of our analyses of
the survey data and discuss their implications for modeling the
Army enlistment decision.
2
Modelian the Army Enlistment Decision
Since the introduction of the All-Volunteer Force (AVF) in
1973, the military enlistment decisions of American youth have
become the object of increasing interest to military manpower
planners and recruiting commands. With military recruitment
competing for personnel alongside civilian educational and
employment options, the military has commissioned numerous
studies of the motivations leading to and factors influencing the
military enlistment decision.
Following the perspective adopted and recommendations made
by the Gates Commission, the military services have primarily
offered pecuniary enlistment incentives such as pay comparable to
civilian wages, cash enlistment bonuses, and money for education.
In support of these efforts, a large body of research has emerged
studying the effects of manpower supply and demand factors upon
aggregate enlistments. This research has largely focused on the
effects of unemployment, military/civilian pay ratios, pecuniary
enlistment incentives, and recruiting resources on aggregate
enlistments (see, for example, Cooper, 1977; Dale & Gilroy, 1984;
and Daula & Smith, 1986).
Even as the Gates Commission released its initial findings,
though, a number of military personnel and manpower researchers
raised objections to what they viewed as an overly economic
emphasis in evaluating the prospects of the AVF. A purely
economic analysis, it was contended, failed to take into account
unique features of military institutions and service that remove
them, in certain respects, from strict competition with the
civilian labor market (Burk & Faris, 1982; Faris, 1984; Gade &
Elig, 1986; and Home & Weltin, 1986).
The Career Decision Survey was designed to model the career
decision processes of individuals. Prior research has
demonstrated associations between economic factors, such as
unemployment, and enlistment rates and sociological factors, such
as patriotism, and enlistment motivations. These research
studies have not, however, formulated models of the individual
enlistment decision process.
In order to facilitate the development of a model of the
individual enlistment decision process, an extensive literature
review was conducted. Literature covering rational decision
approaches as well as affective, social, and cognitive approaches
were reviewed. In addition, career decision-making and consumer
decision-making research were reviewed to assess their potential
relevance for modeling the individual enlistment decision
process. Based on this review (Zirk et al., 1987), Fishbein and
Ajzen's theory of reasoned action (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975) was
adopted as the theoretical framework for this project.
3
U/
The theory of reasoned action (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975; Ajzen

& Fishbein, 1980) is a decision model which posits specific
interrelationships among beliefs, attitudes, social influences,
and behaviors. The model is based on the assumption that
individuals make systematic use of information available to them
and consider the implications of their actions prior to deciding
upon a career.
This model specifies the following relationships among its
components:
(1) Behavior is a function of behavioral intention;
(2) Behavioral intention is a weighted, additive function
of an individual's attitude toward a particular
behavior and social influences;
(3) Attitude is a multilinear function of individual
beliefs regarding the outcomes expected from a behavior
and evaluations regarding the desirability of those
outcomes; and
(4) Social influences are a multilinear function of an
individual's social norms and their motivations to
comply with those norms.
Symbolically, the theory can be expressed in the following
series of equations:
B = BI (1)
BI = wlA + w2 SI (2)
A = E(bi*ei) (3)
SI = E(sni*mci) (4)
Where B is behavior, BI is behavioral intention, A is attitude,
SI is social influences, and b and e are beliefs and evaluations,
sn and mc are social norms and motivations to comply, and w, and
w are the relative weights associated with the normative and
aititudinal components.
Figure 1 provides a diagrammatic representation of the
theory of reasoned action. In this figure, behavioral beliefs
and evaluations combine to form an individual's attitude toward a
behavior. In the Career Decision Survey application of this
theory, beliefs and evaluations regarding career choices
influence attitudes toward careers and, in a like manner, social
norms and motivations to comply effect social influences. Social
influences and attitudes then combine to determine an
individual's intention to choose one or another career option.
The questionnaire items used for the measurement of each of these
theoretical constructs are discussed below.
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5
METHODS
Sample Frames and Sample Selection

To fulfill overall project requirements for decision model
validation, the Career Decision project employed dual sampling
frames. The primary sample frame consisted of "prospects,"
defined as youth who have either actively sought information
regarding Army enlistment or are targeted for contact by Army
recruiters. It was felt that this group would display a
relatively greater propensity to enlist than the general
population. The secondary sample frame consisted of al youths
17 to 20 years of age in the contiguous United States. Samples
were drawn from each of these two frames.
Lead Refinement List (LRL) Sample Selection
The youths composing the subsample of prospective enlistees
were individuals whose names resided on the Army Lead Refinement
Lists. LRLs are lists of prospects kept by recruiters. The LRLs
contain referrals generated by the Rapid Electronic Advertising
Coupon Transmission (REACT) system, lists of high school and
college students, walk-ins, and respondents to local classified
advertising. Each LRL record contained the name, address, and
telephone number of a prospect. In addition, LRLs record initial
recruiting contact and subsequent follow-ups with the prospects.
It should be noted that LRLs are maintained primarily for
telephone, not mail, contacts.
The sample of prospective Army recruits was operationally
defined as high school seniors included on recruiters' LRLs for
the school years 1985-1986, 1986-1987, and 1987-1988. A three-
stage procedure was implemented for sample selection. First, a
sample of recruiting stations was drawn. One hundred from among
the two thousand fifty-eight recruiting stations nationally were
randomly selected. This sample of stations was checked and found
to be proportional on geographic stratification by Army
Recruiting Brigades. Each selected station was tasked with
providing copies of randomly selected pages from their LRLs. In
the last stage of sample selection, individuals were randomly
selected from the LRLs provided by recruiting stations. This
selection procedure yielded a sample of 4,614 youth.
Selection of the Secondary Salale
The secondary sample for the Career Decision Survey was a
national probability sample of 17- to 20-year-old youth. This
sample was selected through the attachment of a "rider" to an
6
Table 1
Sample Sizes for the LRL and Secondary Sample Frames
Sample Brigade Sample Size
Lead Refinement List 4,614

Northeast 723
Southeast 1,069
Southwest 873
Midwest 1,213
West 730
Unknown 6
Secondary 1,397
TOTAL 6,011
ongoing commercial study. The purpose of the survey rider was to

expand the commercial instrument's screening questions regarding
the ages of young adults in the household. When a household was
identified as having one or more 17- to 20-year-old member,
interviewers briefly introduced the purpose of the Career
Decision Survey and requested the name and mailing address of the
eligible household member(s). Only members who currently resided
in the household were accepted for the sample (17- to 20-year-old
youths living independently or in college dormitories were
excluded). A sample of 1,379 youths was assembled in this
manner, Table 1 provides basic information regarding the samples
drawn. The Career Decision Survey Technical Manual (Wilson &
Perry, 1988) provides additional details regarding sample
selection procedures.
Sample Respondents
Table 2 provides sample respondent counts and percentage for
various sample subgroups. Gender and ethnic subgroup marginals
basically reproduce national statistics for 17- to 20-year-olds.
Males very slightly outnumber females in this age group and the
proportionate representation of whites, blacks, and Hispanics
observed in the sample approximate national statistics.
7
if
Table 2
Survey SaRple Subgroup Counts and Percentages
Sample Subgroup Count Percentage
Age 17 135 14.0

18 324 33.5
19 354 36.5
20 155 16.0
Gender
Male 530 51.3
Female 503 48.7
Ethnicity
White (non-Hispanic) 796 81.3
Black (non-Hispanic) 116 11.8
Hispanic 68 6.9
Note. Subgroup counts may not sum to sample total (1,046)

due to missing values.
Nationally, there are nearly equal numbers of 17-, 18-, 19-,

and 20-year-olds. For the secondary, nationally-projectable
sample the low end of the age distribution is noticeably smaller
than might be expected. This lack of 17-year-olds is attributed
to the aging of the sample. Due to delays in obtaining Army
clearance, the project experienced a ten month lag between the
initial selection of the samples and survey mailout. A large
proportion of 17-year-olds became 18 in the interim. The
trimming at both the high and low ends of the LRL sample is to be
expected since this sample was defined by three high school
cohorts, not by age range. It is to be expected that most
members of the class of 1988 would be 17 or 18, the class of 1987
would be 18 or 19, and the class of 1986 would be 19 or 20.
Therefore, we would expect twice as many 18- and 19-year-olds as
we would expect 17- and 20-year-olds in the LRL sample. The
additional slight skewing to older respondents (53% are 19- to
20-year-olds) is reasonable given the period of survey
administration, more than half way through the school year. A
final factor contributing to the observed LRL sample distribution
concerns LRL maintenance. Even though Army recruiters may need
to track recent-graduates, recruiters do not have the capability
to trace this highly mobile population, particularly if parents
act as gate keepers (see Nieva & Elig, 1988).
I
Less than 4% of respondents failed to complete high school.
This percentage does not reflect the national population but does
reflect factors related to the construction of the LRLs.
Individuals without regular high school diplomas and who are not
attending high school or college are removed from LRLs for active
prospecting by Army recruiters. However, the percentage of high
school non-completers is also low among respondents from the
secondary sample which was not restricted like the LRL sample.
School enrollment and employment status are presented in
Figure 2. This figure divides respondents into those currently
(i.e., at the time of survey administration) enrolled in school
and those not in attendance, and then identifies employed and
unemployed respondents in each subgroup. Over three-quarters of
respondents are currently enrolled in school and approximately
one-half of these individuals are employed either full- or part-
time. For individuals not enrolled, a far greater percentage are
employed. In addition, nonenrolled respondents are more likely
to be employed full-time than current students.
Though these general patterns of enrollment and employment
are reasonable, the percentages reported in Figure 2 do not
correspond to national statistics for 17- to 20-year-olds.
Sample respondents are more likely to be attending school and
working than is the national norm. The implications of this
distribution of respondents is discussed below and in more detail
by Wilson and Perry, 1988.
Procedures
Career Decision Survey administration took place between
December 1987 and March 1988. The multiwave mailings
accomplished during survey administration followed the sequence:
(1) Prenotification letter;
(2) First-wave survey mailing;
(3) Reminder/thank you postcard;
(4) Second-wave survey mailing to nonrespondents; and
(5) Third-wave mailing to nonrespondents.
Each wave of survey mailings was staggered by three to four
weeks. Wave one was mailed December 17, 1987; wave two was
mailed January 19, 1988; and the third wave of surveys were
mailed on February 5, 1988. Surveys returned after March 15,
1988 were not processed. Table 3 provides a summary of survey
response rates, defined as respondents divided by deliverable
surveys.
9
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Table 3
Survey Sample Respondent Counts and Rates
Response
Sample Undeliverables Nonrespondents Respondents Rate
LRL 560 3,238 816 20.1%

Secondary 152 1,015 230 18.5%
TOTAL 712 4,253 1,046 19.7%
Limitations of the Career Decision Survey

As a modest, targeted survey effort, the Career Decision
Survey findings have some clear limitations. The major
limitations concern the viability of extensive sample subgroup
comparisons and sample representativeness.
The total number of respondents (1,046) is adequate for the
purposes of this survey (i.e., the validation of a model of the
enlistment decision process). The survey database, however, is
not large enough to allow valid comparisons among various sample
subgroups that may be of interest. For example, only 68
Hispanics, 9 high school juniors, and 21 individuals with GED or
ABE certificates were interviewed. Separate analyses of such
groups obviously are problematic. For this reason, and in
concert with the requirements of this project, only aggregate,
total sample career decision models are reported in this
document.
A second limitation of this report is sample
representativeness. The descriptive analyses presented in this
report do not constitute a representative description of American
youth 17- to 20-years-of-age (see Wilson & Perry, 1988, for a
fuller discussion of sample representativeness). Basically,
youth responding to the Career Decision Survey are more likely to
be attending school and employed full- or part-time than youth
nationally in their age brackets. It is not particularly
surprising to find that respondents are not representative of
youth nationally as the greatest proportion of the sample was
drawn from recruiter's Lead Refinement Lists (LRLs). These are
lists compiled from a variety of sources used by recruiters for
the purpose of contacting prospective recruits. As LRLs are not
intended to be nationally representative of youth 17- to 20-
years-of-age the lack of respondent representativeness is not
unexpected. This characteristic may, in fact, underscore the
utility of information developed by this research project. This
is the only survey conducted to date that has used recruiter's
lists of prospects as a sample frame. Therefore, the findings
12
presented here may be targeted more directly toward the youth
contacted by recruiters than could be achieved using a nationally
representative sample.
Ouestionnaire
The Career Decision Survey questionnaire was developed
primarily to measure constructs contained in the theory of
reasoned action (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975; Ajzen & Fishbein, 1980).
As a career decision theory, this theory specifies a recursive
linkage among beliefs, evaluations, and attitudes, social norms,
motivations to comply, and social influences and attitudes,
social influences, and behavioral intentions. For the Career
Decision Survey, behavioral intentions included intentions to
enlist in the Army, obtain full-time employment, and enroll in
college or technical school.
Measures of these constructs contained in the questionnaire
are listed below. The label used to identify each question is
its questionnaire number (see Appendix A for a copy of the
questionnaire).
For analysis purposes, the measures identified below were
coded in accordance with the theoretical principles enunciated in
Ajzen and Fishbein, 1980.
Beliefs and Evaluations Regardina Career Choice Outcomes
Beliefs regarding the outcomes of career choices and
evaluations regarding the desirability of these outcomes
constitute central features in the theoretical foundation adopted
for this research. The grouping of belief and evaluation
attributes used in the questionnaire were chosen based upon
review of research literature on career choice and enlistment
decisions (Zirk et al., 1987) and the results of focus groups
with young adults conducted during an earlier phase of this
research (McTeigue et al., 1987). The desirability of the
following career attribute statements were evaluated by
respondents on 5-point Likert scales:
Q23 Earning the amount of pay I would like is:
Q24 Extended separation from my family is:
Q25 Being satisfied with the kind of job I have is:
Q26 Having enough of my own money to attend college is:
Q27 Taking orders from others is:
Q28 Having an opportunity for personal growth in my job is:
Q29 Being treated fairly is:
13
-
r W- -' -fN'
-
Q30 Feeling as if I am doing something patriotic is:

Q31 Having the kind of working conditions I want is:
Q32 Having an opportunity for advancement in my chosen
career is:
Q33 Having the kind of health and retirement benefits I
want is:
Q34 Having the job security I want is:
Q35 Having to follow many rules and regulations is:
Q36 Receiving the kind of occupational/technical training I
want is:
Corresponding with each of these evaluation questions were
one or more belief questions (see Q4-Q22) asking the respondent
whether the Army, college enrollment, or civilian employment
offered the particular attribute. Beliefs were measured by 5-
point scales anchored by Extremely likely (1) and Extremely
uniey(5).
Career Choice Attributes

A possible limitation of the theory of reasoned action is
that young people may make affective, rather than cognitive
choices. Emotional reactions to joining the Army within the next
year (Q37), entering college or technical school within the next
year (Q38), and getting a full-time job within the next year
(Q39), were each rated on seven semantic differential items:
(1) Dislike/like
(2) Unpleasant/pleasant
(3) Disagreeable/agreeable
(4) Unenjoyable/enjoyable
(5) Bad/good
(6) Harmful/beneficial
(7) Unrewarding/rewarding
Social Norms and Motivations to ComDlv
Social norms and the motivation to comply with these norms
were determined using the following series of questions. First,
social norms were measured by:
14
K m -
mm
Q40 How do the following people feel about you getting a
full-time job by Fall, 1988?
my close friends
my spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend
my parents
Q41 How do the following people feel about you enrolling in
college or technical school by Fall, 1988?
my close friends
my parents
Q42 How do the following people feel about your enlisting
in the Army by Fall, 1988?
my close friends
my parents
Norms were measures on 5-point scales anchored by Very Qood idea
(1) and Very bad idea (5).
Respondent motivations to comply with perceived social norms
were measured by eliciting responses to the following:
Q43 Generally speaking, I want to do what my close friends
think I should do.
n,44 Generally speaking, I want to do what my
spouse/girlfriend/boyfriend thinks I should do.
Q45 Generally speaking, I want to do what my parents think
I should do.
Motivation to comply was measured on 5-point scales anchored by
Not at all (1) and Very mich (5).
Social Influence
Normative influences on career choice was measured on 5-
point scales anchored by Should not (1) and Should (5):
Most of the people important to me think I should:
Q46 enlist in the Army by Fall, 1988,
Q47 enroll in college or technical school by Fall,
1988,
Q48 get a full-time job by Fall, 1988.
15
Career Intentions
Respondents were first asked: (Qi) "Please describe what
you think you will be doing in about a year from now, in Fall,
1988?" This unaided question was coded for:
1 = school (full-time)
2 = work (full-time)
3 = school (part-time)
4 = work (part-time)
5 = marriage/raising family
6 = military service.
Two responses were allowed, with the responses coded for whether
both responses were planned or whether the respondent indicated
an either/or situation.
Later in the questionnaire, respondents were asked aided
(closed-option) career intention questions. On 4-point scales of
Definitely not (1), Probably not (2), Probably (3), and
Definitely (4), respondents indicated if they intended:
Q49 to have a full-time job by Fall, 1988.
Q50 to enroll in college or technical school by Fall, 1988.
Q51 to enlist in the Army by Fall, 1988.
16
RESULTS
Our analyses were of two basic types. The first stage of

analysis was primarily exploratory and oriented toward the
description of sample respondent circumstances and career
intentions in the year following survey administration.
Crosstabulations were used to determine current circumstances,
career search behaviors, and intentions. The second stage of
analysis constructed a theoretically-based model of respondent
career beliefs, evaluations, attitudes, and normative influences
as they influence career intentions (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975;
Ajzen & Fishbein, 1980).
Career Search Behaviors

Tables 4, 5, and 6 present the counts and percentages of
youth pursuing respectively, Army enlistment, college enrollment,
and full-time employment. All respondents are reported in
Table 4 on enlistment behaviors. However, Table 5 only contains
respondents not enrolled in college full-time while Table 6 only
contains respondents not employed full-time. Fewer respondents
are reported in these tables in accordance with the large
percentage of youth currently enrolled in school and/or currently
employed full-time (see Figure 2).
These tables present a hierarchy of behaviors ranging in
commitment from least to greatest regarding career search
behavior. For example, consideration of a career opportunity is
presented first while acceptance or commitment to an Army
enlistment contract, enrolling in college or technical school, or
accepting full-time employment is presented last. These tables
are not entirely commensurate in that different behaviors are
presented for each of the career choices and (due to skip
patterns) respondents are not overlapping in all instances.
(Regarding the hierarchy of behaviors categorized, not all Army
enlistment behaviors are personally undertaken. Speaking with
recruiters and the taking of the ASVAB are often characteristics
of high school enrollment. Signing an Army contract or going to
the MEPS, however, are clearly individual decisions.)
Nonetheless, a common "weeding out" process emerges in all
tables. As respondents are asked the successive questions
regarding career searching behavior, fewer and fewer respondents
remain. Career choice behaviors exhibit a ulear ranking of
preference. College attendance is most preferred by respondents.
This is followed by full-time employment, and then Army
enlistment.
For Army enlistment behaviors, several general observations
can be made. First, and most clearly, enlistment in the Army is
actively considered by a large proportion of youth. Over one-
third of youth have considered enlistment and two-thirds of youth
have discussed this career option with someone.
17
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Keeping in mind a consideration of the circumstances

surrounding career search behaviors as defined here (i.e., high
school career days where recruiters may visit high school
campuses, and school administered ASVABs), Table 4 demonstrates
that a considerable proportion of surveyed youth have had some
contact with Army testing or recruiters. Nearly one-half have
either taken the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery
(ASVAB) or spoken with a recruiter. Much less ambiguous,
however, in terms of self-initiated activity, though, is the
percentage of youth having spoken with a recruiter who have
either gone to a Military Examination Processing Station (MEPS)
or signed a contract. Here it becomes clear that only somewhat
over 10% of youth speaking with recruiters go to MEPS. Of these,
however, approximately one-third sign enlistment contracts.
Variation in Army career search behavior by sample subgroup
largely conforms to expectations based upon prior enlistment
decision research (see Nieva & Elig, 1988). Enlistment-related
behaviors are truncated for 17-year-olds; females demonstrate a
lower incidence of enlistment-related behaviors; and blacks
evidence a higher than average proportion of enlistment-oriented
behaviors. Additionally, ASVAB rates vary by Recruiting Brigade,
with the South showing the highest rate nationally. Finally, the
percentage of respondents going to MEPS is lowest for the group
attending college. As has been observed in previous research,
enlistment seeking behavior is a function of age, gender,
ethnicity, geographic location, and educational status.
Table 5 presents counts and percentages of individuals
pursuing college enrollment (and who are not presently enrolled
in college full-time). This table illustrates the popularity of
college enrollment as a choice for respondents. The high general
percentage of individuals actively seeking college enrollment
demonstrates the high priority placed in this option.
Full-time employment is not so actively sought as college
enrollment but is more commonly pursued than Army enlistment. A
rather sharp drop-off in the number and percentage of individuals
pursuing career search behaviors is observed as the referent
moves toward acceptance of employment. Less than one-quarter of
respondents requesting applications for full-time employment ever
applied for such employment.
In considering subgroup responses regarding employment,
males and females appear equally active in mcst respects when it
comes to pursuing full-time employment. Despite differences in
both college enrollment and Army enlistment search behaviors,
when it comes to seeking employment males and females appear
nearly comparable in their interests and behaviors. Other,
expected, specific subgroup differences include the fact that
younger sample members (i.e., 17-year-olds) are less interested
in full-time employment and respondents not in school are more
interested than any other subgroup.
21
Career Intentions
Tables 7 and 8 report respondent unaided and aided career
intentions. Despite the difference in referent between these
tables and those reporting career search behaviors (i.e., Tables
4, 5, and 6), a general proportionality is maintained among
career choice intentions and search behaviors. When provided
with an unstructured opportunity to cite career intentions for
the Fall of 1988, three major choices emerged. These were
college enrollment, civilian employment, and military enlistment.
For the total sample, approximately three-fourths mentioned
college enrollment, one-third employment, and one-twentieth
military enlistment as what they expected to be doing in Fall,
1988.
When viewed by sample subgroups, unaided career intentions
generally followed patterns similar to those observed for career
search behaviors. Older and younger sample members distinguish
themselves by citing a relatively greater propensity toward
employment and college or technical school attendance,
respectively. Males, blacks, respondents from the Southeast, and
youth not presently in school demonstrate higher enlistment
intentions than females, whites, respondents from other
Recruiting Brigades, and youth currently enrolled in school.
While females distinguish themselves by citing marriage as an
option more frequently than males, in the area of employment
females continue to have career intentions very similar to those
observed for males.
The most distinctive group in terms of unaided career
intentions are youth not presently enrolled in school. Unlike
any other sample subgroup, less than one-half cite school
attendance as a likely probability in the next-year. This group
has obviously made a clear break from the career considerations
reported by other sample subgroups. To further underscore this
contrast, over one-half of sample members not presently in school
said that they intended to be employed in the next year. No
other subgroup responded at anything approaching this rate.
Finally, only blacks displayed greater enlistment propensity than
this group.
Aided intention questions presented a closed-form response
format to respondent where only the options of Army enlistment,
college enrollment, and full-time civilian employment were
offered. Given the results from the unaided intention question,
this range of choices provided comprehensive.
Though the absolute levels of intention tend to be somewhat
higher, Table 8 reproduces the general proportionalities observed
for unaided career intentions. For the total sample, over three-
fourths report an intention to enroll in college or technical
school in the next year, over one-third of the sample intend to
be employed full-time within the next year, and slightly less
than one-tenth report they will definitely or probably be
22
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If
enlisted in the Army. Clearly, in the aggregate, sample members

consider college or technical school enrollment their highest
priority.
Aided Army enlistment intentions, while displaying higher
absolute levels, generally follow patterns observed previously.
Blacks, respondents from the Southeast, those not in school, and
high school students show the greatest positive enlistment
propensity. In one instance aided enlistment intention, however,
departed from the pattern for unaided intention. This is for
sample age subgroups. In unaided intention, 17- and 19-year-olds
displayed a greater enlistment propensity than 18- and 20-year-
olds. For aided intention this pattern reversed.
Modeling Career Intentions

The modeling of respondent intentions regarding Army
enlistment, college employment, and full-time employment
proceeded in three stages. First, analyses of respondent beliefs
and evaluations were conducted to determine the appropriate
composition of the belief/evaluation component of the theory of
reasoned action. Next, all model components were scaled and
their intercorrelations evaluated. Finally, regressions were
formed to predict attitudes toward career choices, social
influences on career choice, and intentions to choose a
particular career in the next year.
Modeling Beliefs and Evaluations of Career Choices
Prior to assembling model components for testing and
evaluation, belief and evaluation questions were factor analyzed.
These analyses were undertaken to determine the appropriateness
of combining all questions within a single (b*e) scale and to
provide a comparison with previous research analyses conducted on
similar variables. Tables 9, 10, 11, and 12 summarize the
results of the four factor analyses.
It is clear from these tables that the construction of a
single unidimensional belief/evaluation scale would mask
distinctions held by respondents in their beliefs and evaluations
regarding career choices. This finding was expected given the
results reported in previous research studies. Pliske, Elig, and
Johnson (1986) and Home and Weltin (1986), for example, each
found multiple dimensions underlying enlistment motivations.
Tables 9 and 11 (i.e., general evaluations of career
attributes and beliefs about college enrollment) each display two
factors. Taking into consideration necessary differences in
question wordings, these factors can be labeled Career Future,
Advancement, and Growth (Factor I) and Organizational Regulation
(Factor II). Apparently two dimensions underlie respondent
evaluations of careers generally, and college enrollment
specifically. These dimensions summarize a future orientation
25
Table 9
Factor Analysis of Evaluations
Rotated Factor Matrix
Evaluations Factor 1 Factor 2
Q32 OPPORTUNITY TO ADVANCE CAREER 0.925

Q29 FAIR TREATMENT 0.922
Q34 JOB SECURITY 0.915
Q33 HEALTH/RETIREMENT BENEFITS 0.886
Q23 EARN DESIRED PAY 0.877
Q28 PERSONAL GROWTH 0.876
Q31 OK WORKING CONDITIONS 0.868
Q36 OCCUPATIONAL/TECH TRAINING 0.827
Q25 JOB SATISFACTION 0.765
Q26 MONEY FOR COLLEGE 0.627
Q24 SEPARATIONS FROM HOME

Q35 RULES AND REGULATIONS . 0.887
Q27 TAKE ORDERS . 0.850
Q30 DO SOMETHING PATRIOTIC . 0.456
Ngt. Principal components method, varimax rotation. Factor

loadings less than .3 are represented as ".".
26
Table 10
Factor Analysis of Army Beliefs Ouestions
Beliefs Factor 1 Factor 2 Factor 3
Q9B WILL TAKE ORDERS IF ENLIST 0.768

Q18B FOLLOW RULES AND REGS IF ENLIST 0.624
Q6B SEPARATIONS FROM FAMILY IF ENLIST 0.480
Q17B OK FUTURE JOB SECURITY IF ENLIST . 0.870

Q19B CAREER ADVANCE IN FUTURE IF ENLIST . 0.855
Q16B OK JOB SECURITY NEXT YEAR IF ENLIST . 0.825
Q20 CAREER ADVANCE ARMY IF JOIN FALL 88 . 0.659
Q15B OK HEALTH/RETIRMNT BENES IF ENLIST . 0.647
Q22A HAVE OWN MONEY FOR COLLEGE IF ENLIST . 0.536
Q12B SOMETHING PATRIOTIC IF ENLIST . 0.440
QllB WILL BE TREATED FAIRLY IF ENLIST . 0.417
Q5B OK SALARY IN FUTURE IF ENLIST . . 0.879

Q4B OK SALARY NEXT YEAR IF ENLIST . 0.836
Q7B SATISFIED W/WORK NEXT YR IF ENLIST . . 0.821
Q8B GET OK JOB IN FUTURE IF ENLIST . . 0.807
Q13B DESIRED ENVIRONMENT IF ENLIST . . 0.522
QIOB PERSONAL GROWTH OPPORT IF ENLIST . 0.376 0.486
Q14B OK JOB/TECH TRAINING IF ENLIST . 0.457 0.443
ff&U. Maximum likelihood method, Harris-Kaiser rotation. Factor

loadings less than .3 are represented as ".
27
Table 11
Factor Analysis of Colleae Beliefs Questions
Beliefs Factor 1 Factor 2
QSA GET OK JOB IN FUTURE IF GO COLLEGE 0.838

QlOA PERSONAL GROWTH OPPOR IF GO COLLEGE 0.817
Q14A OK TECH TRAIN WANT IF GO TO COLLEGE 0.738
Q5A OK SALARY IN FUTURE IF GO TO COLLEGE 0.723
Q19A CAREER ADVANCE IN FUTURE IF COLLEGE 0.717
Q13A DESIRED ENVIRONMENT IF GO COLLEGE 0.692
Q17A OK FUTURE JOB SECURITY GO TO COLLEGE 0.681
Q11A WILL BE TREATED FAIR IF GO TO COLLEGE 0.527
Q7A SATISFIED WORK 1 YR IF GO TO COLLEGE 0.514
Q12A SOMETHING PATRIOTIC IF GO TO COLLEGE 0.307
Q15A OK HLTH/RETRMNT BENES IF GO COLLEGE
Q4A OK SALARY NEXT YR IF GO TO COLLEGE
Q6A SEPARATIONS FAMILY IF GO TO COLLEGE

QISA FOLLOW RULES & REGS IF GO COLLEGE . 0.798
Q9A WILL TAKE ORDERS IF GO TO COLLEGE . 0.576
K--j. Principal components method, varimax rotation. Factor

28
Table 12
Factor Analysis of Job Beliefs Questions
Beliefs Factor 1 Factor 2 Factor 3
Q19C CAREER ADVANCE IN FUTURE IF GET JOB 0.852

Q21 CAREER ADVANCE JOB IF JOB FALL 88 0.769
Q17C OK FUTURE JOB SECURITY IF GET JOB 0.749
Q15C OK HEALTH/RETIRMNT BENES IF GET JOB 0.695
Q16C OK JOB SECURITY NEXT YR IF GET JOB 0.674
Q14C OK JOB/TECH TRAINING IF GET JOB 0.561 0.305
Q11C WILL BE TREATED FAIRLY IF GET A JOB 0.459
Q22B HAVE OWN MONEY FOR COLLEGE IF JOB 0.442
Q12C SOMETHING PATRIOTIC IF GET JOB 0.330
Q7C SATISFIED W/WORK NEXT YR IF GET JOB . 0.921

QSC GET OK JOB IN FUTURE, IF GET JOB . 0.825
Q5C OK SALARY IN FUTURE IF GET JOB . 0.819
Q4C OK SALARY NEXT YEAR IF GET JOB . 0.736
Q13C DESIRED ENVIRONMENT IF GET JOB 0.359 0.511
Q1OC PERSONAL GROWTH OPPORT IF GET JOB 0.392 0.459
Q6C SEPARATIONS FROM FAMILY IF GET JOB

Q9C WILL TAKE ORDERS IF GET A JOB . . 1.074
Ql8C FOLLOW RULES AND REGS IF GET JOB . 0.377
Note. Maximum likelihood method, Harris-Kaiser rotation. Factor

29
regarding careers and the atmosphere of rules and regulations
likely to be encountered in the particular career choice.
The analyses of beliefs about Army enlistment (Table 10) and
civilian employment (Table 12) each yielded three factors. In
each case the rules and regulation dimension observed for
generalized career evaluations and beliefs about college
enrollment clearly emerged. The remaining two factors, however,
separate career attribute into two groups. One group
characterizes security and advancement while the second group
emphasizes salary and satisfaction.
It was decided that the two nonregulation factors for Army
enlistment and civilian employment beliefs would be collapsed
into a single career future, advancement, and growth factor.
This decision was based on two considerations. First, this
division of belief factors replicates those observed for general
evaluations and college enrollment beliefs. By maintaining
similar scales across career options, analyses and
interpretations are made directly comparable.
The second reason for combining the two nonregulation
factors is the observed correlation between the factors. The
second and third Army factors in Table 10 and the first and
second job factors in Table 12 are very highly correlated (r=.76
and r=.87, respectively). As a consequence, it was decided that
combining these factors would not obscure important dimensions
underlying beliefs about Army enlistment and civilian employment.
Components of the Career Decision Model
Tables 13, 14, and 15 present the means, standard
deviations, and intercorrelations of model components. All
components of the model except social influence and intentions
are scales constructed from multiple questionnaire items (the
questions used in scale construction were identified above).
Mean scale values across the three career options are in
line with expectations based upon the earlier descriptive
analyses of career search behaviors and career intentions. As
larger values connote a more favorable or positive rating of a
career option than lower values, we see that college enrollment
is rated much more favorably than Army enlistment on all model
components. Full-time employment is rated more favorably than
Army enlistment but less favorably than college enrollment.
Model-component intercorrelations generally support
expectations derived from the theory of reasoned action.
Fishbein and Ajzen (1975) contend that correlations between
adjacent components (e.g., attitude and intentions) will
consistently be higher than those between nonadjacent components
(e.g., career belief/evaluations and intentions or
beliefs/evaluations and social influences). While this is true
in the majority of cases across the three career decision models,
30
Table 13
Means. Standard Deviations and Intercorrelations of Variables in
Army Enlistment Career Model
VariabLes
VariabLes Mean SO 1 2 3 4 5 6
1. Army UlBfef/Evaltuaton: -2.154 23.309 1.000 0.068 0.740 0.230 0.384 0.410
Future, Advancement, Growth 0.0 0.034 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001
1026 961 1026 1004 1006 1000
2. Army 8eWff/EveLuation: -1.011 4.088 0.068 1.000 0.121 0.063 0.137 0.146
Orders and Rutes 0.0343 0.0 0.0002 0.0533 0.0001 0.0001
961 963 963 944 946 94
3. Attitude toward Army -3.866 12.864 0.740 0.121 1.000 0.270 0.532 0.586
0.0001 0.0002 0.0 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001
1026 963 1041 1016 1018 1012
4. Subjective Norm -9.184 11.386 0.230 0.063 0.271 1.000 0.254 0.308
0.0001 0.0533 0.0001 0.0 0.0001 0.0001
1004 944 1016 1018 1013 1004
5. Socil Influence 1.845 1.096 0.384 0.137 0.532 0.254 1.000 0.596
0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0 0.0001
1006 946 1018 1013 1021 1006
6. Intention to Enlist 1.372 0.707 0.410 0.146 0.S86 0.306 0.596 1.000
0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0
.0
1000 94 1012 1004 1006 1014
MM. Line 1 of Intercorretatm imtrix reports Pearson corretation coefficients. Line 2 reports
probabiltity tevet. Line 3 reports wftoe of observations.
31
_.. .. ...... . . -- - -- -- m m mm-lmn T1 -- -

Table 14
Colleae Enrollment Career Model
Variabies
Variables Now SO 1 3 4 5 6
1. ColLege BLitef/ 16.486 16.380 1.000 0.074 0.718 0.281 0.411 0.409
Evaluation: Future, 0.0 0.0219 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001
Advancem nt, Growth 1012 963 1012 993 992 991
2. CoLLege Belief/ 0.291 3.158 0.074 1.000 0.003 0.007 -0.031 -0.039
Evaluation: Orders 0.0219 0.0 0.9258 0.8397 0.3391 0.2283
and Rules 963 963 963 948 946 945
3. Attitude toward 18.569 9.999 0.718 0.003 1.000 0.367 0.507 0.534
Coltege 0.0001 0.9258 0.0 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001
1012 963 1045 1022 1022 1020
4. Subjective Norm 5.191 8.019 0.281 -0.007 0.367 1.000 0.375 0.430
0.0001 0.8397 0.0001 0.0 0.0001 0.0001
993 948 1022 1022 1017 1013
5. Social Influence 4.361 1.016 0.411 -0.031 0.507 0.373 1.000 0.568
0.0001 0.3391 0.0001 0.0001 0.0 0.0001
992 946 1022 1017 1022 1011
6. Intention to EnrolL 3.434 0.891 0.410 -0.039 0.534 0.430 0.568 1.000
In CoLage 0.0001 0.2283 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0

991 945 1020 1013 1011 1020
~g3. Line I of Intercorrelation mtrix reports Pearson

correlation coefffcfent. Line 2 reports probability level.
Line 3 reports mmabe of obseations.
32
Table 15
Job Obtainment Career Model
Variables
Variables New SO I 2 3 4 5 6
1. Job 1lief/Evl(ustfon: 2.113 23.122 1.000 0.160 0.715 0.395 0.558 0.549
Future, AdVancemnt, Growth 0.0 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001
1031 929 1031 1009 1010 1004
2. Job Belief/Evatuatfon: 0.062 3.258 0.160 1.000 0.194 0.122 0.147 0.118
Orders and Rules 0.0001 0.0 0.0001 0.0002 0.0001 0.0003
929 929 929 914 914 912
3. Attitude toward Job 12.906 11.293 0.715 0.194 1.000 0.452 0.604 0.617
0.0001 0.0001 0.0 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001
1031 929 1045 1019 1021 1012
4. Subjective Morm -3.356 11.337 0.395 0.122 0.452 1.000 0.529 0.580
0.0001 0.0002 0.0001 0.0 0.0001 0.0001
1009 914 1019 1019 1015 1003
5. Social Influence 2.861 1.394 0.558 0.147 0.604 0.529 1.000 0.717
0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0 0.0001
1010 914 1021 1015 1021 1004
6. Intention to Obtain Job 2.235 1.141 0.549 0.118 0.617 0.580 0.717 1.000
0.0001 0.0003 0.0001 0.0001 0.0001 0.0
1004 912 1012 1003 1004 1012
o Line i of fntercorreletmn mtrix reports Pearson correlation coefficient. Line 2 reorts

probability level. Line 3 reports euber of observations.
33
there are some notable exceptions. For the Army and college
models the orders and rules evaluation/belief scale is more
highly correlated with intention than attitude. Similarly, for
all models subjective norm is more highly correlated with
intention than social influence.
Even with these departures from theoretical expectations,
the correlations among components of the three career models
generally support the theory of reasoned action. All
correlations are correctly signed, statistically significant
(with one exception), and of reasonable magnitude.
The Career Intention Models
The career intention model adopted for this research
specifies a system of three equations. The first predicts
attitude as a function of beliefs and evaluations; the second
predicts social influence as a function of social norms; and the
third equation predicts career intention as a function of
attitude and social influence. In addition to these equations a
second intention model has been estimated. This model includes
the demographic characteristics gender (male coded 0, female
coded 1), race (white coded 0, black coded 1), and educational
status (coded as two dummy variables with high school student as
the residual category). Though the theory of reasoned action is
explicitly psychological and includes no sociological or economic
concepts, these characteristics were included in a model because
of their ability to isolate high and low career propensity
groups.
Tables 16, 17, and 18 present the regression results for the
Army enlistment, college enrollment, and civilian employment
models. In general the models proved very successful in
explaining variation in attitudes and career intentions. The
models were less successful in predicting social influence from
subjective norms.
The results of the regression analyses lend considerable
support to the decision theory used in this project. All
estimated coefficients for model variables were statistically
significant and correctly signed. As predicted, both the
attitudinal and social influence components contributed to the
explanation of variation in intentions (the importance of the
social influence component is underscored by the fact that its
standardized influence on intention is consistently greater than
that exerted by personally held attitudes). Most importantly,
thi high percentages of variances accounted for in intentions
(tm-.462 for the Army model, R =.407 for the college model, and
B =.569 for the employment model) demonstrate the utility of the
theory of reasoned action as a framework for analyzing career
intentions.
A close consideration of Table 16 provides important and
actionable insights into the formation of enlistment intentions.
34
-U-
Table 16
Rearession Eguations for Models of Intention to Enlist in Army
Standardized
Variable B B Probability
Prediction of Attitude toward Army

1. Army Belief/Evaluation: .408 .748 .0001
Future, Advancement,
Growth
2. Army Belief/Evaluation: .230 .071 .001
Orders and Rules
Intercept -2.510 .000 .0001
Adjusted 12 . .571
Prediction of Army Social Influence Concerning Army

1. Subjective Norm .024 .254 .0001
Intercept 2.089 .000 .0001
Adjusted R2 - .064
Prediction of Army Intention (Model 1)

1. Attitude toward Army .020 .375 .0001
2. Social Influence .256 .401 .0001
Intercept .968 .000 .0001
Adjusted 12 - .462
Prediction of Army Intention (Model 2)

1. Attitude toward Army .020 .372 .0001
3. Gender -.060 -.043 .074
4. Race .096 .055 .025
5. College Attendee -. 153 -.111 .0002
6. Not Presently in School .042 .012 .6774
Intercept 1.08 .000 .0001

Adjusted 12 - .461
35
Table 17
Rearession Eauations for Models of Intention to Attend College
Standardized
Prediction of Attitude toward College
1. College Belief/Evaluation: .439 .726 .0001

Future, Advancement, Growth
2. College Belief/Evaluation:-.158 -.051 .0236
Orders and Rules
Intercept 11.699 .000 .0001
Adjusted £2 - .523
Prediction of College Social Influence

Intercept 4.103 .000 .0000
Adjusted £2 - .140
Prediction of College Intention (Model 1)

1. Attitude toward College .030 .340 .0001
Intercept 1.458 .000 .0001
Adjusted £2 - .407
Prediction of College Intention (Model 2)

1. Attitude toward College .027 .300 .0001
3. Gender .068 .038 .0951
4. Race .061 027 .2417
5. College Attendee .331 .186 .0001
6. Not Presently in School -.420 -.204 .0001
Intercept 1.64 .000 .0001

Adjusted 2 2 - .510
36
Table 18
Rearession Equations for Models of Intention to Obtain a Job
Standardized
Prediction of Attitude toward Job

1. Job Belief/Evaluation: .338 .722 .0001
Future, Advancement, Growth
2. Job Belief/Evaluation: .272 .078 .0005
Orders and Rules
Intercept 12.420 .000 .0001
Adjusted R2 - .545
Prediction of Job Social Influence

Intercept 3.083 .000 .0000
Adjusted £2 - .279
Prediction of Intention to Obtain Job (Model 1)

1. Attitude toward Job .030 .297 .0001
Intercept .585 .000 .0001
Adjusted £2 - .569
Prediction of Intention to Obtain a Job (Model 2)
1. Summed Attitude .030 .295 .0001

2. Global Subjective Norm .351 .425 .0001
3. Gender -.005 -.002 .918
4. Race .069 .024 .2408
5. College Attendee -.168 -.074 .0037
6. Not Presently in School .503 .192 .0001
Intercept 1.779 .000 .0001
Adjusted R2 -.
37
lf
First, a substantial understanding of enlistment intentions may

be obtained from a prospect's attitudes toward the Army and his
or her perceptions of the opinions of other influential
individuals regarding Army enlistment. Using a very limited
number of personal opinion questions, the Fishbein and Ajzen
model was able to explain over 45% of the variance in stated
respondent enlistment intentions. The implication is that
recruiters need only ask opinions of prospects to predict
probable intention. Further, Model 2 in Table 16 implies that
elicited opinions may be more effective in identifying high
propensity prospects than targeting based upon demographic
characteristics. While race and college attendance contributed
statisticaljy to the model, in practical terms (summarized by the
change in R and the magnitude of standardized effect) they
contribute less to the understanding of enlistment intentions
than either attitudes or perceived social influences.
Pursuing the insights provided by this psychological
analysis of enlistment intentions, the normative component of
intentions appears quite important. Though personal attitudes
and the prospects of what enlistment means for the individual
(e.g., career advancement, training, etc.) constitute a
significant contributor to intentions, social influences (as
reflected in standardized regression coefficients) are even more
important. Previous research on enlistment decisions has largely
ignored this normative component in construction models of
enlistment propensity. Our findings imply, for example, that
advertising directed toward parents and other social influencers
may have a direct impact upon enlistment intentions. Given the
predictive ability of this model, our results also imply that the
appropriate measurement of advertising effectiveness is not to be
obtained from influencers themselves but rather potential
enlistment prospects.
The findings of this research firmly establish the utility
of an explicitly psychological perspective for the analysis of
Army enlistment intentions. From a more practical recruiting
perspective, our findings reinforce the belief that person-to-
person contact and questions can readily provide excellent
indications regarding enlistment intentions. This implication is
reinforced by the results presented for the college enrollment
and civilian employment intention models. In each case, the
previous general observations hold. An understanding of the
psychological processes leading to a career decision is vital.
Market segmentation and targeting efforts will only succeed to
the degree that they distinguish between individually held
beliefs and perceptions regarding career choices.
38
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This project has successfully validated the theory of

reasoned action as a valuable method for modeling enlistment
intentions. We adopted this perspective based upon findings from
an extensive literature review on decision models (Zirk et al.,
(1987) and empirical analyses of preliminary data collected to
assess decision processes (McTeigue et al., 1987). In Zirk et
al. (1987) literature on career and consumer decision-making was
reviewed which covered rational, affective, social, and cognitive
decision styles. This literature was evaluated on the basis of
potential relevance for modeling the individual career/enlistment
decision-making process. In McTeigue et al. (1987) findings from
focus groups conducted to study the predecisional process
involved in the career decisions of young adults were reviewed.
Based upon the literature review and focus group findings, the
theory of reasoned action (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975; Ajzen &
Fishbein, 1980) was adopted as the most appropriate theoretical
perspective for modeling the career decision-making processes of
young adults. Subsequent development, pretesting, and fielding
of the Career Decision Survey (Kralj et al., 1987; Wilson &
Perry, 1988) have produced the data analyzed in this report.
The analyses presented in this report have conclusively
demonstrated the utility of this explicitly psychological
perspective for the analysis of career intention. Using self-
reported respondent beliefs, attitudes, and normative influences
alone, the adopted model was able to account for between 46% and
61% of variations in career adoption intentions. That is, using
a relatively small number of questions asking youth about their
beliefs and opinions and those of persons important to them, the
models were able to very accurately predict career intentions.
The model adopted for the analyses is one that assumes
thoughtful decision-making. While this model performs
excellently in the aggregate, the literature on this subject
strongly suggests that such a rational process may not adequately
describe all individuals. A generalized emotional response
(e.g., "I just don't like the Army!"), rather than the rational
consideration of the pros and cons of a career options, may
motivate the decisions of significant subgroups of sample
respondents. While not documented here, the Career Decision
Survey database contains information that would support the
identification of both rational and affective decision-making
psychological processes. It is recommended that future analyses
of the Career Decision Survey database further refine the
understanding of the enlistment decision process through a
modeling of (or identification of) individuals making career
decisions based upon purely affective considerations.
39
REFERENCES
Ajzen, I., & Fishbein, M. (1980). Understand attitudes and

predicting social behavior. Englewood Cliffs, NJ:
Prentice-Hall, Inc.
Burk, J. S., & Faris, J. H. (1982). The persistence and impor-

tance of patriotism in the all-volunteer force (USAREC Sr
82-6). Fort Sheridan, IL: U.S. Army Recruiting Command.
Cooper, R. V. L. (1977). Military manpower and the all-volunteer

force. Santa Monica, CA: Rand.
Dale, C., & Gilroy, C. (1984). Determinants of enlistments: A

macroeconomic time series view. Armed Forces and Society,
Vol. 10, No. 2, Winter 1984, 192-210.
Daula, T. V., & Smith, D. A. (1986). Recruiting goals, enlist-

ment supply, and enlistments in the U.S. Army. In C. L.
Gilroy (ed.), Army Manpower Economics. Boulder, CC: West-
view Press, Inc.
Elig, T. W., Johnson, R. M., Gade, P. A., & Hertzbach, A. (1984).

The Army enlistment decision: An overview of ARI recruit
surveys. 1982 and 1983 (ARI Research Report 1371). Alexan-
dria, VA: U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral
and Social Sciences. (AD A164 230)
Faris, J. H. (1984). Economic and noneconomic factors of person-

nel recruitment and retention in the AVF. Armed Forces and
Society, Vol. 10, No. 2.
Fishbein, M., & Ajzen, I. (1975). Belief. attitude. intention

and behavior: An introduction to theory and research.
Reading, MA: Addison-Wesley.
Gade, P. A., & Elig, T. W. (1986). Enlisting in the U.S. Army:

The citizen soldier in an all-volunteer force (PUTA Working
Paper 86-18). (Paper presented at the Eleventh World
Congress of Sociology, New Delhi, India.) Alexandria, VA:
U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social
Sciences.
Gilroy, C. L. (Ed.) (1986). Army manpower economics. Boulder,

CO: Westview Press.
Home, D. K., & Weltin, M. M. (1986). Motivation and career

intentions. Journal of Behavioral Economics, Fall, 29-42.
Hosek, J. R., & Peterson, C. E. (1986). Enlistment decisions of

young men. In Gilroy (Ed.), Army manpower economics.
Boulder, CO: Westview Press.
41
Kralj, M. M., Adelman, L., Wilson, M., McTeigue, R. J., & Zirk,
D. A. (1987). Modeling the individual enlistment decision:
Phase I final report (ARI Research Note 87-61). Alexandria,
VA: U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and
Social Sciences. (AD A189 481)
McTeigue, R. J., Kralj, M. M., Adelman, L., Zirk, D. A., & Wil-
son, M. (1987). Predecisional processes involved in the
enlistment decision (ARI Research Note 87-62). Alexandria,
VA: U.S. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and
Social Sciences. (AD A189 597)
Nieva, V. F., & Elig, T. W. (Eds.) (1988). The Army Communica-

tions Objectives Measurement System (ACOMS): Survey desiQn
(ARI Technical Report 785). Alexandria, VA: U.S. Army
Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences.
(AD A197 517)
Pliske, R. M., & Adelman, L. (1985). Development of tools for

the measurement of enlistment decision variables (PUTA
Working Paper 85-14). Alexandria, VA: U.S. Army Research
Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences.
Pliske, R. M., Elig, T. W., & Johnson, R. M. (1986). Towards an

understanding of Army enlistment motivation patterns (ARI
Technical Report 702). Alexandria, VA: U.S. Army Research
Institute for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. (AD A173
817)
Wilson, M. J., & Perry, M. S. (In preparation). The career

decision survey technical manual (ARI Research Product 88-
23). Alexandria, VA: U.S. Army Research Institute for the
Behavioral and Social Sciences.
Zirk, D. A., McTeigue, R. J., Wilson, M., Adelman, L., & Pliske,
R. (1987). Alternative approaches to modeling the individ-
ual enlistment decision: A literature review (ARI Technical
Report 738). Alexandria, VA: U.S. Army Research Institute
for the Behavioral and Social Sciences. (AD A184 498)
42
Appendix A. The Career Decision Survey
0MB 0702-0081
EXP 9/30/88
CAREER DECISION SURVEY
WESTAT, INC.
1650 Research Boulevard
Rockville, Maryland 20650
Fall 1987
A-1
!f
ABOUT THIS QUESTIONNAIRE
THIS QUESIONNAIRE IS PART OF A STUDY CONDUCTED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND

THEOPINIONSAND FEELINGS OF YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT CAREER CHOICES. ALL THE
QUESTIONS HAVE TO, bOdWITH WHAT YOU HAVE DECIDED TO DO OR ARE NOW
DECIDING TO DO AFTER LEAVING HIGH SCHOOL IN THIS STUDY, WE WILL ASK YOU
QUESTIONS ABOUT HOW YOU MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT YOUR CHOICE OF CAREERS,
INCLUDING THE CHOICES OF GETTING A FuuAME JOB, ENUSTING IN THE ARMY, OR
;ENROWDNG IN COLLEGE OR VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
"-"eL "1.: =:
THERE ARE SEVERAL DIFFERENT KINDS OF QUESTIONS TO ANSWER. DIRECTIONS

REGIVENFOR EACH DIFFERENT KIND OF QUESTION EXPLAINING HOW YOUR
ANSWER SHOULD BE MARKED. THIS IS NOTATEST AND THERE ARE NO RIGHT OR
~ WRONG ANSWER&.
YOUR NSWERSARE IMPORTANT! WE NEED TO HEAR FROM EVERYONE IN ORDER

4 FOR US TO GIE CORRECT INFORMATION TO INTERESTED GROUPS THROUGHOUT
,4'THE COUNTRYAsoUT How YOUNG ADULTS UKE YOU MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THEIR
SCHOICE OF CAREERS.. .
PLEASE ANSWER ALL OF THE QUESTIONS. IF YOU WISH TO COMMENT ON ANY

'QUESTIONSYOU MAY USE THE BACK OF THE QUESTIONNAIRE. .
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.
Please Note:
This notification is to Inform you of who Isconducting this survey and what use will be made of the Information
being collecied, Inaccordance wih Public Law 93-573, which I called the Privacy At of 1974.
WOlt Inc. Ia private research firm that has been hired by the U.S. my Pesearch Intitute to study the opinions
an feelings of young people about their career choices. This research Isauthorized by Acts of Congress which
authorize recruitment for mit serices and authorize research to sccompish t goal. This authority IsIn 10
Unte Stie Code, Sections 503 and 235L
Only Weetat, a privae company, will have access to Information about you a an Indvdual. Under no circumstan
ces will they relas any Information about any Individual to anyone else. Your Information will only be used to
rpt how youn people Ingeneral feel about arser choice, kinclng enlisting Inthe Amy.
Your particpation Isvoluntary, and you may choose not to answer any particular question Ifyou so desire.
A-2
(WE WOULD UKE TO START BY ASKING YOU TO DESCRIBE IN YOUR OWN WORDS YOUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE.
0-I Please describe what you think you will be doing in about a year from now, In Fall, I8?
0-2 Who would you say has had the greatest Influence on your decisions about what you will do or what you have done after leaving high school?
(For example, a teacher, your father, or a friend.)
0-3 What, specifically, do you think you will be doing infive years? (For example, working as a computer programmer, going to college, getting
married and staying home to raise a family.)
PLEASE READ
ON THE NEXT FIVE PAGES, WE WILL BE ASKING YOU QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT YOU
ARE PLANNING TO DO IN FALL, 1988, SPECIFICALLY WHETHER YOU ARE PLANNING
TO GO TO COLLEGE, ENUST IN THE ARMY, OR GET A FULL-TIME JOB. WE WILL
'ALSO BE ASKING YOUR OPINIONS ABOUT SEVERAL CAREER/EDUCATIONAL
ALTERNATIVES.
A- 3
NOW THAT YOU'VE TOWD US ABOUT YOUR PLANS FOR THE NEAR FUTURES WE WOULD LIKE TO ASK YOU A
SERIES OF QUESTIONS, ABOUT THE ADVANTAGES OR.DISADVANTAGES OFi SEVERAL DIFFERENT CAREER
; CHOICES. REGARDLESS OFMWAT YO d Ma~ BE DOING, OR WHAT YOU PLAN TO DO INTHE FUTURE, PLEASE
GIVE US YOUR OPINIONS ABOUT THE FOLLOWING POSSIBLE CAREER/EDUCATIONAL ALTERNATIVES.
(PLEASE.CIRCLE THENUMBER THAT MATCHES YOUR ANSWER.) .
Slightly unikl Slightly unlikely:..
SlgtyIkySlightly likely
0-4 1iwillireceive thekindofsaWary

0- 1wilbe able to gotthe kind
olbwnljuuumil
. .
I want atxLy~a If I:.............
a.o tehniala.
nrol I colee Enroll In college or technical
scholy~ll 166.t~2 4.~school by Fall, 1988. 2 S4 iS
~~~~~b. 198 1EnlistiInthe ArmybyFall. .Ehsltenyyai1988. ** 2 ~ 4 5
c. GEtlist heAmyoby Fall, 19M8 1 2 4 ~ c eaultmjbyal18
choGoaflltm byjoFall, 19 " ~. 2 ,3: 4

c olbyfull-tm 1988by 1968 Ki.*f- 22alR- 4. Els nteAm yFl.18
-XA
0-5 1will haeetneieaa~n

slr ~ .4 the. kind of -0 iilhve
I atI h uueI :a. Enroll n college or technical go tlatf

shobyFl,98. 2 5 college
a. Enroll 4 or technical in
scoo. b ll,Faia198y8. l,98 2 4 hoolby
blEnlist InteAm y1al 98 2 3. 4
4
Elis1W.
b. byFal, IntheArm 4b. Gotfltiejobyby Fall, I88 "1 2 44 5
c. Got afull-time job by Fall, I9W8. 2 4~*
0-6 1lwillhvesatened sleartins 0-101 lwillhae te kdofy
a. fEnrlolgayacf
Inrflcollegeoorttechnica
a. nrllr~olegorecnlalschool by Fall, 198&2 4

scolbbal..8. ~
1928. 42~
Enlist In the4Amy by Fall, 4
b. Enis In the Arm bal Fal 196.
98.
c.Gtfulmjob~ll ~ 'c. Got afull-time job byFail, 198 2 4
0-7
stifid
1 il wthth
b knd0 wll e rete firy f
of wokextII be Ioing A-
i .~1
.....
......
Slightly unlikely,~ Slightly unlikely
-- l lkl Slightly likely
0-12 lwilllfeelasalt Imdong 0.17 lwilllhave thejob securitylIwant ~

something patrioticif 1 In the hifure lf1:
a. Enroll In college or technical ~ ~a. Enroll In college or technical

school by Fall, 1988.L 2 ::: 4 school by Fall, 1968. 't 2 4 54
b.. EnlstIn the Arnmyby Fall, 1988.2 4 i
b. EnlstIn the Armyby Fall,.1988. 2 4
c. Gota full-time job by Fall, 1988 . 2 44 .
c. Got afull-time job byFal. 1966 2 4 S
. ~ 0-18 1wll have to follow many rulean

0-13 1will have the kind of environment ~rgltosI
around me that Iwant If:1.coly~l,98
~ Va. Enroll In college or technical
scholby
al, 1S&2 .34 .
a. EnrollIn college or technical
school by Fal, 1986L 2b ~. EnlstIn the Amy byFall. 19M.
b. Enlit Inthe Army by Fall. 1986M 1 4 c.Gtuftmjobal,98 1234 5
c. Got afull-time job by Fall, 19M8 A:::2 4

0-19 1will have opportunities for career
0-14 1will receive the kindof .
mm.cupatlcrial/technlca training .4a. Enroll in college or technical

chool by Fall, 1988.
swnil ;1i 2~ 4 5
a. EnrollIn college ortehnical b.Elsltembya,18 12345

school by Fail, 1968. 2 4 .Gtfl-leobyai18 5
b. Enlstin toeArmy byFall, 1988 2 4
c. Got afull-timejob by Fall, I98. 2 4 -0I~laepotntefraer~

advancement within the Army if I ~
Join the Amy by FAi, 1988. 2 4~ 5
0-15 1will have health andSO
retremntbenfis Iwat I I
0-21 1Iwill have opportunities for career
a. EnrolInolflegeor technicaladncmtinyjo 1gt
schoolby Fafl.1968L 2dvncei2nl4mjobflgt
a full-timejob by Fall.1908. 214
b. EnlistIn the Army by FAN. 2 4
c. Got afull-tme job byFabl, 1988 2 4 0-2 Ilwilhave enough of myown

mony t nd ollege N1
01,16 I will howthe job security Iwant a nltnh~myal18.~ ~

amg~M If k b. Got afull-timejob by Fall.198 1i
b. Enis I g " by Fd, 108L 2 4
a. Getafullmejob by FAdl198L. 2 4
A-5
FERENTTHINGS THAT PEOPLE FIND DESIRABLE OR UNDESIRABLE
N BR JERSFR , L, SOME THINK WORKING WITH PEOPLE THEY UKE IS A ESIRAlLE
1INJG TO HAVE IN'AJOB, AND THEY MIGHT RATE THAT A R5.OTHERS THINK THAT WORKING WITH PEOPLE
THYLIKE IS AN W1DEIRA81 THING TO HAVE ON. AJOB AND THEY MIGHT RATE THAT 1 OR 2. (PLEAS E
CIR~CLE THE NUMBER THAT BEST MTCHES YOUR OPINION).
0-23 Earning the amount of pay I would like Is: DESIRABLE 1 :. 2 3 4

Extremely Slightly Neither Slightly Extremely
0-24 Extended separation from my family is: DESIL1 R1;.D 4 SiUNDESIRABLE

0-25 satisfied with the kind of job DESIRABLE I 2 _--,--..,..UNDESIRABLE

Ih I Extremely Slightly Neither Slightly Extremely
0-2 Having enough of my own money to DESIRABLE BLEJ2 • • 4 :_.LUNDESIRABLE

atend college is: Extremely Slightly Neither Slightly Extremely
0-27 Taking orders from others Is: DESIRABLE- .2 " A •LNEIA8LE

4
0-28 Having an opportunity for personal OESIRABLE A8L E 2 2 • 4 5 UNDESIRABLE

growth In my job Is: Extremely Slightly Neither Slightly Extremely
0-29 Being treated fairly Is: DESIRABLE-- _.-; .. 3 4

0-30 Feeling as if rm doing something DESIRABL,_ .L..: 2 : .3 : 4 : .__5. _UNDESIRALE

patriotic is: Extremely Slightly Neither Slightly Extremely
0-31 Having the kind of working condltions DESIRABLB 2 a A U 4 NUNDS LE

I want Is: Extremely Slightly Neither Slightly Extremely
0-32 Having an opportunity for advancement ESIRABJE- L,:j 1 4 "___.SUNDESIRABLE

In my chosen career Is: Extremely Slightly Neither Slightly Extremely
0-33 Having the kind of health and retirement ESIRABLA1 B L A 4L 4 DE S UNDESIRABLE

benefits I want Is: Extremely Slightly Neither Slightly Extremely
0-34 Having the job security I want Is, DESRABLE L 2 .. 4 : '; UNDESIRABLE
0-35 Having to folow many rules and ESIRAB- BL * 9 . 4 !.I__UNDESIRABLE

regula" 1: Extremely Slightly Neither Slightly Extremely
0-6Reosiving Vie kind of occupational/ DE9 A-: 4 -- _NEIAL

technical wain"n 1wan Is: Extremely Sightly Nih Slightly Extremely
A-S
. .... ~~~
- - ' -sowL ' -' ' "
BELOW ARE sEVEAL PAIRS OF WORDS, ONEOF'WHICH aS POSITIVE AND ONE OF WHICH ISNEGATIVE. (FOR
EACH PAIR, CIRCLE THE M NUMBER BETWEEN THE TWO WORDS THAT BEST DESCRIBES HOW YOU FEEL
ABOUT Y= JOININGTHE ARMY WTHIN THE NEXT YEAR.)
0-37
UNNDISLIKE •. " LIKE
b. UNPLEASANT : PLEASANT
a. AGREEABLE 1: :4 __L_ DISAGREEABLE
d. UNENJOYABLE 1: " 4 : ENJOY ABLE
UNFAVORABLE 1 • FAVORABLE
I, GOO 4 S BAD
g. HARMFUL .... .- L " 4 BENEFICIAL

h. UNREWARDING 2 3 A 4 L A REWARDING
0-38
t FOR EACH PAIR 0F WORDS, CIRCLE THE M.E NUMBER THAT BEST DESCRIBES HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT
MMRENTER ING COLLEGE OR TECHNICAL SCHOOL WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR.
a. AGREEABLE 1L 2 3 : A
4 .L. DISAGREEABLE
b. UNENJOYABLE 2 : 4 ENJOYABLE
c. DISUKE : :L.:Za 4: . UKE
d. BENEFICIAL 2 4 HARMFUL
a. UNFAVORABLE 1 ;, ..
:3 : 4 :FAVORABLE
f. UNREWARDING •4 - - REWARDING
9, PLEASANT 2 4 5 UNPLEASANT
h. BAD 14 L5 GOOD
NOW CIRCLE THE DUNUMBER BETWEEN EACH PAIR OF WORDSSMT BEST DESCRIBES HOW YOU FEEL
I ABOUq U GETTNG A FULL-ME JOB WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR.
a. UNENJOYABLE 4 2 L 4 ENJOYABLE
b. BENEFICIAL 1 : .... J. • 4 ; . HARMFUL
. UNPLEASANT . •. 4 "A. PLEASANT
d. UNFAVORABLE 1 :A3a 4 : .L. FAVORABLE
6. GOOD 1 3 4 S I BAD
DISAGREEABLE ; a• AGREEABLE
a. UNREWADING 4 a REWARDING
h. UKE ..
. .1.:.J... : 4 :.. DISLIKE
A-?
IN SIO WEARE GOMiilO MYO6IJ ABOU THEOPINIONS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO MAY -BEIMPRTANT INYOUR LIFE.
('PLEASE CIRCLE THE NUMBEIR THAT MATCHES YOUR ANSWER)
Nocntc with this person
Bad Idea ...
Good Idea
0-40 How do the following people feel about you getting a full-time job by Fall, 1968?
My close friends 21"'S 4 5 7 8

My spouse/gilfriond/boyfriend 12 4 5 7 8
My parents 12 345 7 :8:
0-41 Flow do the following people feel about you enrolling In college or technical
school by Fall, 1088
My close friends 12 !4i-' : 78;.

My spouse/girfriend/boyfriend S2 3:: 4 7 8 B
My parents 123 4 5 7 8
0-42 How do the following people feel about you enlisting In the Army by Fall. 1988?
My close friends 1~~2 4 5' 7 8

My spouse/gldfriend/boyfriend 123,4 5 7
My parents .2 34 5 78
A-4
PLEASE CIRCLE THE MNE NUMBER, rI4AT BEST DESCRIBES YOUR OPINION.
0-43 Generally speaking, I want to do what my dose NOT AT ALL " j3 4 VERY MUCH
friends think Ishould do.
0-44 Generally speaking, I want to do what my spouse/ NOT AT ALL 2 4 VERY MUCH
girlfriend/boyfrend thinks I should do.
0-45 Generally speaking. I want to do what my parents NOT AT ALL 2 3 4 VERY MUCH
think I should do.
0-4 Most of the people who are Important to me think I... SHOULD NOT 1 L 3. SHOULD
enlist in the Army by Fall. 1988.
0-47 Most of the people who are Important to me think L.. SHOULD NOT -1. 2 3 4 : SHOULD
enroll In college or technical school by Fall, 1988.
0-48 Most of the people who are Important to me think I... SHOULD NOT .. . : 3 SHOULD
get a full-time job by Fall, 1988.
.WE WOULD NOW UKE TO ASK YOU ABOUT YOUR PLANS FOR THE NEAR FUTURE. BY FALL, 1988, WHAT DO
YOU THINK YOU MIGHT BE DOING?, .
Probably
Definitely not
0-49 1Intend to he aful-tme job by Fall, 1988. 1 23 4
0-50 1Intend to enroll In college or technical school by Fall. 1988. 1es3t
0-51 1Intend to enlistIn the Army by Fall.lS

1963L
0-52 NIyou Intend to be doing something other than what Is listed above, please tell us what that ',s.
A-9
S.THE NEXT-SET OF QUESTIONS ASKS YOU ABOUT YOUR CAREER PLANS.
(-9 ICEOENME,
0-53Q-3 Hvav yu l considered
y serioul ni- In the miltry?
r enlisting How did you have your firat contact with an Army recruiter?
(PLEASE CIRCLE THE NUMBER OF YOUR ANSWER.) (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER.)
1 Yes I An Army recruiter contacted me first.

2 No IF NO, SKIP TO o- 2 Icontacted an Army recruiter on my own.
3 Iwas with a friend while s/he was meeting
with a recruiter.
4 I contacted an Army recruiter on the advice
0-54A Inwhich services have you considered enlisting? of another service recruiter.
(CIRCLE ALL THAT PLY.) 5 1contacted an Army recruiter on the advice
of a U.S. Army Reserve or National Guard
I Army unit or member.
2 Navy
3 Air Force
4 Marines 0-60 Where did you first talk with an Army recruiter?
5 Coast Guard (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER.)
I Talked by phone
0.548 Have you considered: 2 Talked at a recruiting station
3 Talked at a job fair
I Full-time service -Active Duty 4 Talked at school

2 Part-time service in a Reserve unit 5 Talked at an Army reserve unit
3 Part-time service In the ationa Guard 6 Other (Please specify)
0-55 Have you discussed this with anyone? 0-61 Have you gone to MEPS (Military Examination Process Station)?
(CIRCLE ALLTHAT APPLY.)
I Yes
1 No 2 No
2 Yes, Family
3 Yes, Military recruiters
4 Yes, Friends 0-62 Have you signed an Army enlistment contract?
5 Yes, Others (Please specify) IYes
1 Yes
2 No IF YOU HAVE NOT SIGNED
0-56 Did you take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery AN ARMY ENLISTMENT
(ASVAB) In high school? CONTRACT, SKIP AHEAD
TO Q-4
I Yes
.2 No
3 Dont Know 0.63 NYES, when did you sign It?
0-57 Have you responded to any Army ads by iling an 800 number MONTH YEAR
or mailing in a coupon for more informalion?
I Yes 0-63B What Is your current Army status?

2 NO
I Currently in the Army
2 Waiting to go on Active Duty for Basic (entry) Training
0-58 Have you spoken with an Army recruiter about enlisting? 3 Neither of these; ove cancelled my contract
I Yes
2 No - YOU HAVE NOT SPOKEN
To AN ARMY R0ECRUITER,
A-40
0-4 4ave you considered enrolling In college or technical school? 0-718 1 YES or NO, when did you make this decision?
I Yes
2 No MONTH YEAR
3 Presently enrolled full-time SKPTO 0-72
0-72 Have you consked looking for a full-.time job?
0-65 Have you discussed this with anyone?
(PLEASE CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY.) 1 Yes
2 No
1 No 3 Presently employed full-time -- SKIP TO 0-80 I
2 Yes, Family
3 Yes, Friends
4 Yes, Others (Please specify) 0-73 Have you discussed this with anyone?
(PLEASE CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY.)
I No
-6 Have you written of asked for college or technical school 2 Y a
applications? 2 Yes, Family
3 Yes. Friends
I Yes 4 Yes. Others (Please specify)
2 No
074 Have you asked for any job applications?
067 Do you Intend to take a Reserve Officer Training Course (ROTC)
at college? 1 Yes
2 No
I Definitely
2 Probably
3 Probably not 0-75 Have you formally applied for a full-time job?
4 Definitely not I Yes
048 Have you taken any tests (SAT. ACT, etc.) required for 2 NO
enrollment?
I Yes 0-76 Have you been Interviewed for a full-time job?
2 No
I Yes
2 No
0.4 Have you formally applied for enrollment?
1 Yes O-77 Have you been offered a full-timo job?

2 N
2 No ---- IFNO, SKIP TO
0-70 Have you been accepted by any of the colleges or schools

youve applied to?
0.78 Have you decided to accept the full-time job offer?
I Yes
2 No I YES, I have decided to accept
2 NO, I have decided not to accept
3 I hae not declded yet
to enroll?
0-71A Have you decided
I YES, I have decided to enrol 0-79 1 YES or NO. when did you make your most recent decision?
2 NO. Ihave decided not toenoll
3 I have not decided yet
MONTH YEAR
A-Il
Very Important
atonotailirtortant
0480 If you wore toconsider enlisting Inthe ~~061 Listed below are some reasons why
Army, how important would each of the -gpeople choose NOT to enlist In the
following Incentives be to you? ~ ~Army. Again. If you wore to consider
(PLEASE CIRCLE THE NUMBER OF .. enlisting In the Army, please Indicate
YOUR ANSWER.) how Important these reasons are to You.
a. Guaranteed assignment to ajob Inthe a. I'd have extended separations from

specific geographic location of your my family. I 2: 3 4
coe.1 2 b. I don't like taking orders. I 2 3 4
b. Starting salary of $590 per month. 1 t3
c . I'd make less money than I would
c. A cash enlistmient bonus of between If Iwere acivilian. 1 2 3 4
$2000 and $800 depending on thed.Idntw ttobaslie.4
specificoArmyjob you sign up for. 1 3 ~ d dntatoeslir
d. A short enlistment tour (2 ya .Pepenhemae'tepced

commitment). 1 :x:2: 3 '4': f. Military service would be a waste of
a. Free medical and dental care. 3 4tmfre
C. People aren't treated fairly in the
f.Retirement benefits. 3 4:i:::rm i~
g. Financial assistance for continuing h h ryhstomn ue n

education (college or vocational/
tcncl.1 t 3 4regulations. 1 2 3 4
1. 1don't like Army uniforms. 1 2 3 4
j. I don't belie"e the Army will live up

to what It promises Inthe ads I see
onrvTV. 3 4
k. Army recrutersocannot be trusted. 1 2 3 4
1. Risk ofbeingkiled. -42 3 4
m. Basic trainng Ittootlough. I t 3 4
A-1 2
0-82 ON THIS PAGE AND THE NEXT PAGEYOUWi LIST
FIND THREE LISTS OF NINE JOB8S. FOR EACHjo

LIST OF NINE ,JOBS. FIRST READ ALL THE I Starting salary Is inimuum wage RANK
DESCRIPTIONS OFTHE JOBS, THEN RANK THE Skilltraining is notaLal useful (1-9)
Na opportunity for career advancement
JOBS 1 TO 9. MARK THE JOB YOU WOULD You re fasNa, a with the job
WANT THE MOST WITH A *. .THE JOB YOU
- . Staring salary Isminimum wage RANK
WOULD WANT SECOND MOST WITH A 2"'AND training is aomewhat useful
Skill (1-g)
SO ON.',KEEPMARKING WITH A HIGHER £zla opportunity for career advancement

You e v= satisfiedwith the job
NUMBER UNTI! YOU GET TO "HE JOB YOU
, ' 3 Starting sarary Isminimum wage RANK
WOULD WANT'THE LEAST, WHICH YOU
. ,"- '. :, .Skill training Is 1M useful(1-)
SHOULD MARK WITH A V. Sam opportunity for career advancement
You re somewhat satisfied with the job
4 Starting salary Is more than minimum wage RANK

EXAMPLE
Skill training Is not at all
useful (1-9)
Job Ong opportunity for career advancement
You are yj adiflag with the job
thU bule~ieib IU=Aj (1-0) 5 Starting salary Is amm ani" - , =wage RANK
OPP"-NY *W 3R
J Skill training Is
smeswht useful (1-9)
You"m d,, Wv, lb -,, Sam opportunity for career advancement
2 sw" 9"y b mkina -P PAW You are somuwhatsatifid with the job
SI Wti g busasm uM 11-4) 8 Startlnt -lary Is much more than minimum wage RANK
"m, f wcw
rft adne , L training is 1M useful
Skill (1.9)
Yau inm 5wUam1h mlob- Ha opportunity for career advancement
tw
3 m~la=,,k.
yi -ve P.AWX You are dlaaflhflhi with the job
SWOM bxw~ u 114-) 7 Starting alary Is much mare than minimum wage RANK
fmeppoisrftfnryeradvoom w Skill training Is not at A useful (1-9)
You ue am.,, ft I* job
Sw Sam opportunity for career advancement
You are with the job
£ Starting slary Is much more than minimum wage RANK

training isagmma useful
Skill (1-9)
Ma opportunity for career advancement
You are dldm with the ob-
n a i muStamrs than minimum wage RANK

SkItr,inng Is= useful (1-9)
g opportunity for carer advancement
You are jaIIq led with the Job
A-1 3
, qW
I Starting salary Is dinism wage RANK I Starting salary Is minimum wage RANK
Skill training Is nolt a useful (1.9) Skill training Is not tall useful (1-9)
ra1 opportunity for career advancement Some opportunity for career advancement
You area al with the job YouarI= satisf with the job
2 Starting salary
is minimum wage RANK 2 Starting salary Is minimum wage RANK
Skill training Is 1gMMaat useful (1-9) Skill training is somewhat useful (1-9)
Sms opportunity for career advancement Na opportunity for career advancement
You we d aaaaEd with the job You are somewhat satisfied with the job
3 Starting salaryIs mknmum wage RANK 3 Starting salary Is minimum wage RANK
Skill training is - useful (1-9) Skill training is xM useful (1-9)
U opportunity for career advancement Gzaa opportunity for career advancement
You are yet$ saflhg with the job You are disaisfid with the job
4 Starting salary is more than minimum wage RANK 4 Starting salary Is mare than rnimum wage RANK
Skill training Is noatall useful (1-9) Skill training Is nt atal useful (1.9)
S oma
opportunity for career advancement N opportunity for career advancement
You are dL h with the job You are somewhat satisfied with the job
5 Starting salary Is mare **an minimum wage RANK 5 Starting salary Is more than minimum wage RANK
Skill training Is somewhat useful (1-9) Skill training is somewhat useful (1-9)
N opportunity for career advancement Qra opportunity for career advancement
You are x s.atlhed with the job You are djiasa with the job
6 Starting salary Is mueh mae than minimum wage RANK 6 Starting alary I much more than minimum wage RANK
SkIll training Is xM useful (1-9) Skill training Is xM useful (1-9)
AGrt opportunity for career advancement %=n opportunity for career advancement
You ar somaugjAUg with the job You are im aified with the job
7 Starting Salary Is mneh mars than minimum wage RANK 7 Starting salay Is mueh more than minimum wage RANK
Skill training Is n2UdA useful (1-9) Skill training is notatall useful (1-9)
Ma opportunity for career advancement fiat opportunity for career advancement
You are xe AAI with the job You ae ftngaif with the job
8 Startwg Is age
wa RANK g Starling salary imuh mrA Mn minimum wage RANK
Skill training is na useful (1-9) Skll tranng Is am hl useful (1-9)
Ogu opportunity for creer advancement *A opportunity for career advancement
You ae mo IaUi with the job You are xan ulfla with the job
g Startg s y t mob moe mnium wage RANK 9 Sartfn Salary IS numb mnm than minimum wage RANK
Skill training Is x useful (1-9) Ski tralning I x useful (1-9)
S
opportuity for caree advancement Ma opportunity for career advancement
Youme aMMn with the job You are amn LUdui with the job
A-14
-4-7-
0-83 THIS PAGE ANDTH NEXrPGiW ,,LS
WILLASd.Y O DO A_8IMIt)AR TASKIC' Package
4 INSTEAD OFJOS WEW1ILLNOWASKYOV y IjIg
I ~juyIs
Ary inium
sartngageRANK
TO0-RANK: ENLISTMENT A AGSH'SkltriigInoofaluel
ARMY MIGHT OFFER.-'THE PACKAGES ARE', ma opportunity for career advancement in the Army
MADE- UP OF';k'STARTING '-SALARA
'k:~e ~eg p
SI , LTRAIING
tbF LE
CE~tAN NDA 2 Army starting salary Isminlmumr wage RN
CERTd~iAMOUNT: OF, MONEY. FOR; fme opportunity for career advancement in the Army
SCHOOL'AFTERL,"COMPLETlNG-ARMY. 6l1of college expenses paid
SERVICE_,IN ADDITION, WE HAVE ADDED - 3 Army starting sWary Isminimum wage RANK
T0 HE PACKAGE OPPORTUNITES FOR Is sel(19
~, ~ rSam opportunity for career advancement In the Army
CREER ADVANCEMENT INTHE ARMY, ~ MaW of college expenses paid
4 Army startng salaryis memthn minimum wage RANK
FOR EACH IST, OF NINE.PACKAGES, FIRST Skill training Isnot at all useful (1.9)
Y~ ~' ~3zna" opportunity for career advancement In the Army
READ -ALL,,.THEDESCRI PTIONS.~ THEN.lioclegepnsspd
RANK THE ARMY ENUSTMENT PACKAGES
.45 Army starting saary is more than minimum wage RANK
41T.MARK THE PACKAGE YOU WOULD Skill Veaining Issmehatn useful (1.9)
WAN'TJHE MOST WITH-A 1, THE Sg=lopportunity for career advancement in the Army
PACKAGE. YOU WOULD .WANT:,SECONDHafoclegexnsspi
MOST, WITH A 2ADS ON KEP 6 Army starting salary ismuch more tiiun minimitm wage RANK
4 ' - training is uz= useful
-Skill
(1.9)
MARA: HGHER.
1 ONGWIT NMBER UNTL N opportunity for career advancement In the Army
YOU GETO THE'PACKAGE YOU WOULD tnmoney offered fow college expenses
WANT- THE LEASTjI WHICH YOU. SHOULD 7 Army starting salary Ismuch more than minimutm wage RANK
MARKWrFH"9":~.
~ A' s '~Skill training isnoatall useful(19
, r. ' ~S2= opportunity for career advancement In the Army
flMi of college expenses paid
8 Army starting salary Ismuch more than mlnIm~im wage RANK

Skill training Is agovifif useful (1.9)
HQn opportunity for career advancement In the Army
Hanmoney offered for college expenses
9 Army Starting salary ISmfumhmar. thamnminimumn wage RANK

SkiIll raning Isr=useful(19
fima opportunity for career advancement In the Army
611 of college expenses paid
A- 15
Army starting salary Is minimum wage RANK I Army stiring salary Is minimum wage RANK
Skill training is notan useful (1-9) Skill training Is not at all useful (1-9)
fzsa opportunity for career advancement In the Army Sarn opportunity for career advancement In the Army
Hai of college expenses paid ofIcollege expenses paid
2 Army starting salary Is minimum wage RANK 2 Army starting salay Is minimum wage RANK
Skill training Is mnmwadI useful (1-9) Skill training Is ommhat useful (1.9)
Sam opportunity for career advancement In the Army N opportunity for career advancement In the Army
RN money offered for college expenses flal of college expenses paid
3 Army starting salary Is mlnimum wage RANK 3 Army starting saiay Is mIlnimum wage RANK
Skill training Is xaiM useful (1-9) Skill training Is y= useful (1.g)
In opportunity for career advancement In the Army reat opportunity for career advancement in the Army
Al of college expenses paid na money offered for college expenses
4 Army starting salary Is more than minimum wage RANK 4 Army starling salary Is more than minimum wage RANK
Skill training Is not t all useful (1-9) Skill training Is noat all useful (1.9)
So=e opportunity for career advancement In the Army He opportunity for career advancement In the Army
Hn money offered for college expenses of college expenses paid
WHa
5 Army starting salary Is more than minimum wage RANK 5 Army starting salary Is more than minimum wage RANK
Skill training is somaewhat useful (1-9) Skill training Is omwhat useful (1.9)
Hn opportunity for career advancement in the Army Grai opportunity for career advancement in the Army
All of college expenses paid HN money offered for college expenses
6 Army starting salary Is much more than minimum wage RANK 6 Army starting salary Is more than minimum wage RANK
Skill training Is x=l useful (1-9) Skill training Is x= useful (1.9)
Grea opportunity for career advancement In the Army Som opportunity for career advancement in the Army
Half of college expenses paid All of college expenses paid
7 Army starting salary Is much more than minimum wage RANK 7 Army starting salary Is much more than minimum wage RANK
Skill training Is notatall useful (1-9) Skill training Is notatall useful (1.9)
N opportunity for career advancement In the Army Great opportunity for career advancement In the Army
All of college expenses paid fiN money offered for college expenses
Skill training Is somhat useful (1-9) Skill training Is sommhat useful (1.9)
GLalt opportunity for career advancement In the Army Som opportunity for career advancement In the Army
Half of college expenses paid -- of college expenses paid
Skill training Is xW useful (1-9) Skill training is xM useful (1-9)
Some opportunity for career advancement In the Army N opportunity for career advancement in the Army
fin money offered for college expenses al of college expenses paid
A-16
0-84 IN THIS. LAST QUESTION YOU WILL FIND. IS-T
THREE USTS OF DIFFERENT SITUATIONS
YOU MIGHT ENCOUNTER IN COLLEGE OR.
VOCATIONAL TRAINIG FO AHLS
VOCATIONAL~~~
TRIIGHO2EC S l expenses paid to attend school RANK
OF NINE SITUATIONS, FIRST READ ALL THE Skills attained at school are not ati useful (1-9)
DESCRIPTIONS, THEN RANK THE ar- ooaiarywl be mnlmum wage

No opportunity for future career advancement
SITUATIONS I TO 9. MARK.THE SITUATION
2 U2 expenses paid to attend school RANK
Skills attained at school are smewhal useful {1-9
THE SITUATION YOU WOULD WANT After-school saary will be much more than minimum wage
SECOND MOST WITH A '2', AND SO ON. Q9 opportunity for future career advancement
KEEP MARKING WITH A HIGHER NUMBER 3 f expenses paid to attend school RANK
UNTIL YOU GET TO THE SITUATION YOU Skills attained at school are mm useful (1-g)
After-school salary will be more than minimum wage
WOULD WANT THE LEAST, WHICH YOU 2m opportunity for future career advancement
SHOULD MARK WITH A k'.. 4 S"m" expenses paid to attend school RANK
Skills attained at school are natall useful (1.9)
After-school salary will be much more than minimum wage
reae opportunity for future career advancement
5 Sam expenses paid to attend school RANK

Skills attained at school are somewhat useful (1.9)
Atter-school salary will be more than minimum wage
Sgm opportunity for future career advancement
6 ll expenses paid to attend school RANK

Skills attained at school are j= useful (1-9)
After-school salary will be minimum wage
N opportunity for future career advancement
7 l expenses paid to attend school RANK

Skills attained at school are ntat all useful (1-9)
After-school salary will be more than minimum wage
Sm opportunity for future career advancement
8 ll expenses paid to attend school RANK

Skills attained at school are samawkai useful (1-9)
Alter-school salary will be minimum wage
N opportunity for future career advancement
9 All expenses paid to attend school RANK

Skills attained at school are x=n useful (1-9)
Alter-school slaqr will be much more than minimum wage
Grat opportunity for future career advancement
A-17
Siuation Siauftin
H expenses paid to attend school RANK I NQ expenses paid to attend school RANK
Skills attained at school ae =LA useful (1-9) Skills attained at school are notatall useful (1-9)
Aflter-school slary will be much more than minimum wage After-school Wary will be mar. than minimum wage
e-Me opportunity for future career advancement - at opportunity for future career advancement
2 He expenses paid to attend school RANK 2 No expenses paid to attend school RANK
Skills attained at school are samwai useful (1-9) Skills attained at school are somewhat useful (1-9)
After-school sary will be Mw, than minimum wage After-school salary will be minimum wage
Ma opportunity for future career advancement Sam opportunity for future career advancement
3 No expenses paid to attend school RANK 3 he expenses paid to attend school RANK
Skills attained at school are xM useful (1-9) Skills attained at school are !*M useful (1-9)
After-school salary will be mblmM wage After-school salary will be much more than minimum wage
Cm~t opportunity for future career advancement -a opportunity for future career advancement
4 Sme expenses paid to attend school RANK 4 Some expenses paid to attend school RANK
Skills attained at school are notat al useful (1.9) Skills attained at school are not aall useful (1-9)
After-school salary will be more than minimum wage After-school salary will be minimum wage
N opportunity for future career advancement - Sw opportunity for future career advancement
5 Some expenses paid to attend school RANK 5 Some expenses paid to attend school RANK
Skills attained at school are aamswhu useful (1-9) Skills attained at school are momewhat useful (1-9
After-school salary will be minimum wage After-school salary will be much more than minimum wage
GEW opportunity for future career advancement &aopportunity for future career advancement
6 Some expenses paid to attend school RANK 6 Som expenses paid to attend school RANK
Skills attained at school are uM useful (1-9) Skills attained at school are 1M useful (1-9)
Altar-school salary will be much more than minimum wage After-school slary will be more than minimum wage
Some opportunity for future career advancement - Grmft opportunity for future career advancement
7 Al expenses paid to attend school RANK 7 AA expenses paid to attend school RANK
Skills attained at school are naUIM useful (1-9) Skills attained at school are not st 1luseful (1-9)
Ater-school salary will be minimum wage After-school salary will be much more than minimum wage
fiuut opportunity for future career advancement -a opportunity for future career advancement
8 All expenses paid to attend school RANK 8 An expenses paid to attend school RANK
Skills attained at school are samni useful (1-9) Skills attained at school are amawbt useful (1-9)
After-school salary will be much more than minimum wage After-school salary will be mre than minimum wage
SOM opportunity for future career advancement - &re opportunity for future career advancement
9 AD expenses paid to attend school RANK 9 M expenses paid to attend school RANK
Skills attained at school are - useful (1-9) Skills attained at school are kM useful (1-9)
ter-school salary win be mgmethanmi lm wae After-schoollsaary will be minimum wage
N opportunity for future caroer advancement -me opportunity for future career advancement
A-18
0-85 How oldare you? 0-42 Nfyou have graduated from high school, please specify what
kind of diploma you have. (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER.)
1o Regular high school diploma
2 GED (General Educational Development)
0-86 Your sex? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER.) 3 ABE (Adult Basic Education Certificate,
I Male from correspondence or night school)
2 Female, 4 Some other kind of certificate
5 Not applicable
0-87 Please tell us whether you are:

0-93 Do you have a job now?
I White
2 Black I Yes
3 Asian or Pacific Islander2 NoI OSIPT05
4 American Indian or Alaskan Native
5 Oter (peciy)0-94 How many hours a week do you usually work for pay?
1 1-15 hours
0-88 Are you Hispanic?2 1-5hor
1 Yes 3 26-35 hours
2 No 4 36+- hours
3 Con't Know
0I-95 Are you looking for work now?

0-89 Are you currently In school?I s
I yes 2 No
2 No IF NO, SKIPTO 0-911
0-96 How easy or difficult would it be for you to get a full-time job in
0-90 What grade are you In? (CIRCLE ONE NUMBER.) teae hr o ie
Hh Shol
IJnWI Not difficult at all
Hh chod
2 enor2 Somewhat difficult
3 1st Yr College/Vocatlonal Technical 3 Very difficult
4 2nd Yr C~ /Vgefcai"a Techinical 4 Almost Impossble
5 Other (specffy) _ 5 ldonltknow
0-91 What Isthe highest grade you omnpleted?

(CIRCLE ONE NUMBER)
I Less than High School Junlir

2 High School Junir
3 High Schlool Senior
4 let Yr Colloge/Vocational Technical
5 2nd Yr College/VcisloneI Technica
6 Other (seciy_______
A-19
0-97 Towhom would you mostlikelygoto auk Informatlon about 0-100 Below Isa list of high school mathematics and technical
a career or job selection? (CIRCLE ALL THAT APPLY.) courses. For each course listed below, please Indicate
whether you are currently taking It or whether you have
1 My father (stepfather) already passed it.
2 My mother (stepmother) (CIRCLE THE NUMBER OF YOUR ANSWER.)
3 Brothers/ssters (stepbrothers/stepsisters) a. Elementary algebra:
4 Friends at school or In my neighborhood I Currently taking this course
5 Girtliend/boyfrlend/spouse 2 Have taken and passed this course
6 Teacher(s) 3 Neither
7 School guIdance/career counselors b. Plane geometry*
8 Militay recruiters 1 Currently taking this course
9 Others (specify) 2 Have taken and passed this course
3 Neither
10 No one but myself c. Business math:
1 Currently taking this course
2 Have taken and passed this course
0-98 Besides yourself, who are you likely to see for help In
(CIRCLE ALL THAT
deibing about a job or a career?
APPLY.) d. Computer science:
1 My father (stepfather) 2 Have taken and passed this course
2 My mother (stepmother) 3 Neither
3 Brothers/sisters (stepbrothers/stepsisters) e, Intermediate algebra:
4 Friends at school or in my neighborhood t Currently taking this course
5 r 2 Have taken and passed this course
3 Neither
6 Teacher(s)
7 School guidance/career counselors f.Trigonometry:
Mil recuiters cou s I Currently taking this course
8 Military recruiters 2 Have taken and passed this course
9 Others (specify) 3 Neither
10 No one but myself g. Calculus:
0-99 What grades do/did you usually get In high school? 3 Neither
(CIRCLE THE NUMBER OF YOUR ANSWER.) h. Physics:
1 Mostly as (Anumerical average of 90100) 1 Currently taking this course

2 Mostly A's and B's (8145-819)
3 Mostly d (8
B's
Mostly B's (80-84) ) 3 Neither
4 Mostly B's and C's (75-79)

5 Mostly C's (70.4)
6 Mostly C's and O's (65-69)
7 Mostly D's and F's (64 and below)
A-20
0-101 PLEASE PROVIDE YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER BELOW. We
would R~e io know how many of the people who complete thes surveys
eventually da enlist I the Army. Social security numbers wHi only be
used to find out In the future which surveys wer, completed by people
who enlist, and which surveys were completed by people who do not
enlist. Your answera awe voluntary and confidential. They will never be
made known to anyone In the military. This will help us to understand
what Job Preferences are related to whether or not people enlist I the
military.
This use of Social Security Numbers to authorized by Executive
Order g9W.
THIS COMPLETES THE QUESTIONNAIRE.. PLEASE LOOK OVER YOUR ANSWERS TO BE SURE YOU HAVE NOT
OMITTED ANY:!QUESTIONS THAT APPLIED TO YOU. MAIL THE*. QUESTIONNAIRE IN THE ENCLOSED
POSTAGE-PAID ENVELOPE.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE.
A- 21

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Technical Report 814

o The Career Decision Survey:

Manpower and Personnel Policy Research Group

Approved for public mlem; dilsbutlon Isunlimiltd.

FOR THE BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

A Field Operating Agency Under the Jurisdiction

EDGAR M. JOHNSON JON W. BLADES

PAR Government Systems Corp.

ARI Technical Report 814

1840 Michael Faraday Drive, Suite 300 5001 Eisenhower Avenue

62722 A791 2.2.2 C.1

The Career Decision Survev: Modeling the Army Enlistment Decision

ARI Technicak Report 814

The Career Decision Survey:

Michael J. Wilson and M. Shelley Perry

Contracting Officer's Representative

Manpower and Personnel Policy Research Group

Manpower and Personnel Research Laboratory

Office, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel

Army Project Number Manpower, Personnel, and Training

Approved for public release distribution unlimited.

This report documents work completed during the second phase

The Career Decision Survey required the collaborative par-

Extensive conceptual and operational support was extended by

Acknowledgment is also made of the recruiters who took the

THE CAREER DECISION SURVEY: MODELING THE ARMY ENLISTMENT

To develop new quantitative instruments and models for de-

Data on new quantitative measures of career behaviors and

Sample members were sent prenotification letters explaining

Data were analyzed in three stages. First, data quality was

RESULTS .......... .......................... 17

APPENDIX A. THE CAREER DECISION SURVEY ... .......... A-i

4, Count and percentage of youth positively

10. Factor analysis of Army beliefs questions . . .. 27

12. Factor analysis of job beliefs questions ..... .. 29

13. Means, standard deviations and intercorrelations

Figure 1. Schematic representation of the theory of

Each year the Army must recruit large numbers of young

Enlistment Decision Project

Phase II of the Enlistment Decision Project involved the

The theory of reasoned action (Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975; Ajzen

5, ~5". '..'~S. ~.*..5 N~ S.'~. V

Sample Frames and Sample Selection

Sample Brigade Sample Size

Lead Refinement List 4,614

ongoing commercial study. The purpose of the survey rider was to

Survey SaRple Subgroup Counts and Percentages

Sample Subgroup Count Percentage

Age 17 135 14.0

Note. Subgroup counts may not sum to sample total (1,046)

Nationally, there are nearly equal numbers of 17-, 18-, 19-,

LRL 560 3,238 816 20.1%

TOTAL 712 4,253 1,046 19.7%

Limitations of the Career Decision Survey

Q30 Feeling as if I am doing something patriotic is:

Career Choice Attributes

Our analyses were of two basic types. The first stage of

Career Search Behaviors

- ! "I. C!.e IAA!A Vs@ V! 4!