Abstract

 
 
 
 This study is a quantitative descriptive research design which compared 1995 and 2005 data regarding family influence on rural Pennsylvania high school seniors’ postsecondary decisions. A chi-square analysis at p < 0.05 determined that there was (a) an increase in students planning college attendance, (b) a decrease in students not planning postsecondary education or unsure of postsecondary plans, (c) an increase in students planning college attendance who did not have parents with postsecondary schooling, (d) a decrease in students not planning postsecondary education or unsure of postsecondary plans who did not have parents with postsecondary schooling, (e) an increase in lower-middle class students planning to attend college, and (f) a decrease in lower-middle class students not planning postsecondary education or unsure of postsecondary plans. There was no significant difference in students’ postsecondary plans when siblings’ pursuit of postsecondary education was considered.
 
 
 
 
Highlights
In the spring of 1995, the influence of family on the postsecondary decisions of rural Pennsylvania high school seniors was examined
The research methods utilized in that study were reapplied a decade later to another sample of rural Pennsylvania high school seniors to determine whether or not there was a change in family influence on rural students’ plans after high school
Four primary areas were examined: (a) The postsecondary decisions of all students in the sample, (b) effect of parent education on student postsecondary decision, (c) effect of sibling education on student postsecondary decision, and (d) effect of perceived family financial/class standing on student postsecondary decision
Summary
In the spring of 1995, the influence of family on the postsecondary decisions of rural Pennsylvania high school seniors was examined (and subsequently published in the Winter 1998 edition of The Rural Educator). The research methods utilized in that study were reapplied a decade later (in the spring of 2005) to another sample of rural Pennsylvania high school seniors to determine whether or not there was a change in family influence on rural students’ plans after high school. Four primary areas were examined: (a) The postsecondary decisions of all students in the sample, (b) effect of parent education on student postsecondary decision, (c) effect of sibling education on student postsecondary decision, and (d) effect of perceived family financial/class standing on student postsecondary decision
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