George Cooney

Orientations to the future: A comparison of adolescents in Australia and Singapore

Using an event-listing approach, this study examined the personal and societal future orientations of 15-year-old males and females in Singapore and Sydney. Three aspects were examined: content, affect, and time span. Overall, the study found that adolescents perceived their personal and societal features in separate noninterlocking planes, seeing more pleasant, proximal, personal futures, and more unpleasant, distal, societal futures, especially in relation to nuclear war and political problems. Demographic and personal construct variables influenced this general pattern of future orientation.

Influences of Gender Stereotypes on Adolescents’ Perceptions of Their Own Achievement

This study of Australian students’ perceptions of achievement argues for flexibility in gender stereotypes, varying with the frame of reference, and the multidimensionality of self-concepts. Students in the first 4 years of high school (N = 663) completed tests and questionnaires about mathematics and English. The systematic patterns of their responses depended on contrasting subject domains and the specific or general nature of aspects of their achievement. Gender differences in how well students thought they performed were at odds with similar performances on standardized tests. Two sources of gender stereotypes explain complex interactions of gender and subject domain for interrelated aspects of achievement—a tendency by males to overestimate specific task performance across domains, and traditional gender stereotypes about “natural talent” for females in English and for males in mathematics. The broad implications for ways we think about mathematics and gender require an understanding of discrete notions of ability and performance, and an acknowledgment of students’ flexible self-categorizations.

Motivation for return to study as a predictor of completion of degree amongst female mature students with children

The motivation for return to study, as measured by the Continuing Education Women Questionnaire (modified), of 117 mature age female graduates with children was compared with that of 118 former mature age female students with children who had discontinued a degree program before graduation. Motivation was found to relate to a number of predictors, including previous education, age, marital status, family life cycle stage, satisfaction with previous employment and family support for return to study. Interrupters as a group were found to be similar in motivation to graduates. However, certain subgroups of interrupters scored higher on those aspects of motivation which stressed study as a way to ameliorate or escape from unpleasant or difficult life circumstances. These same difficult circumstances in turn made graduation more unlikely and led to discontinuance. The conclusion is drawn that life circumstances may be a more parsimonious predictor of attrition in this population than motivation.

Profiles of Time Perspective and Personality: Developmental Considerations

Time perspective is an important but subtle cognitive construct underlying personality, decision making, and goal setting. This study identified 3 temporal dimensions--temporal extension, temporal attitude, and temporal structure--and reviewed the associations among them. T. J. Cottles (1969, 1977) work on temporal profiles was briefly reviewed; it suggested that 3 types of temporal profiles can be isolated and that 3 broad personality dimensions--human agency, mood, and temperament--from characteristic associations with each of the temporal profiles. The authors expected the profiles to reflect developmental sensitivities as a person moves from adolescence into early adulthood. Two samples (159 high school students and 236 university students) participated in the study. The results provided some limited support for the actualizer and atomist profiles; somewhat surprisingly, the role of temporal extension appeared to be insignificant. No evidence was found for a developmental transition of time perspective between middle adolescence (15-17 years) and early adulthood (18-25 years).

Assessment of self‐concept in early adolescence

This study investigates the conceptual issues, theoretical rationale, construct validity, psychometric properties, and empirical analysis of the Self-Perception Profile for Adolescents (Harter, 1986). The scale was administered to 283 students (average age 13.1 years, 49% female) from 12 Year 7 classes in three non-selective systemic high schools. The scale assesses competence in 8 self-concept domains: scholastic competence, social acceptance, athletic competence, physical appearance, romantic appeal, conduct/morality, close friendships, job competence and, in addition, global self-worth. Separate items relating to mathematics and English abilities were added. The internal consistencies were generally high. Results from factor analysis provided strong support for the a priori dimensions, the multidimensional conceptualisation of the self-concept, thereby confirming Harters (1985a) model.

Information and choice of subjects in the senior school

Abstract Selection of subjects for the final two years of secondary schooling is a task of vital importance for the adolescent. Data from 1,048 16-year-olds in Australia are reported. The findings suggest that many adolescents do not seek or do not access the information which is necessary for rational decision-making. Adolescents are, however, able to differentiate between information sources on the basis of their usefulness. Implications for career advisers are discussed.

Careers: Adolescent awareness and exploration of possibilities for self

Abstract The present study investigated the exploration of careers of 443 adolescents within an awareness and personal possibility framework. First, knowledge of occupational possibilities was explored, using a listing questionnaire. Second, multiple options in career choice for self were examined, including an analysis of the social class level of self-selected job preferences. A key concern was whether awareness of possibilities and a consideration of multiple options for self were associated with social environmental factors (social class, gender, and ethnic origin). Results of the study suggested that adolescents, regardless of gender, social class, or ethnic background, were aware of multiple occupational possibilities. Concerning self-preference, however, various social-environmental circumstances (gender and social class) militated against a consideration of multiple occupational possibilities for self.

Higher Education of Single and Married Mothers

ABSTRACT This paper describes an Australian sample of 78 single and 107 partnered mothers who entered or re‐entered tertiary study as mature age students. 27% were early school leavers; of those who had matriculated, early marriage and/or early pregnancy were major reasons for non‐continuance with study, and this was particularly the case among those who subsequently became single mothers. Both partnered and single were enrolled in more traditionally female courses of study than were younger female students attending the same institutions. Some four‐fifths of the sample felt they were managing their time, work, relationships, finances and overall coping poorly or very poorly. However their academic performance was well above average. The single mothers felt they were coping rather better than the married, especially with regard to money (despite being poorer), relationships and time. Overall satisfaction with university life was very high, with the main benefits reported by both single and partnered mothe...

Cultural Differences in the Exploration of Career and Leisure Possibilities by Adolescents in Australia and Singapore.

This study examined the personal possibilities 15-year-olds in Australia and Singapore perceived in relation to their career and leisure pursuits. In particular, it considered the extent to which both awareness of options and a consideration of multiple options for self were associated with culture, gender, and class. A sample, drawn from seven schools in Sydney and six in Singapore, was administered the ‘Life Possibility’ questionnaire (n= 451, and n= 162 respectively). The results in both domains revealed significant class, gender, and cultural differences which were considered within a multiple-possibility processing framework.

Work and leisure relationships: an exploration of life possibilities during adolescence

This study explored the relationship between leisure preferences and work/occupational aspiration for adolescents in Singapore and Australia. Three hypothesized relationships between the domains of “spillover”, “compensation”, and “segmentation” were investigated. Except for females in the Australian sample, it appeared that adolescents saw leisure preferences and occupational aspirations as two independent spheres of their personal futures, supporting the segmentation hypothesis.