Hyman Rodman

The Range of Aspirations: A New Approach

Most research on educational and occupational aspirations is based on the assumption that a person has a single level of aspiration. We suggest a new approach to the study of aspirations by developing the concept of a range of aspirations and by introducing operational measures of a range of educational aspirations and a range of occupational aspirations. The hypothesis that the range of aspirations is wider in the lower classes is tested, controlling for sex and race, and confirmed only for white males. Other findings on the relationships between our measures of aspiration and social class, race, and sex are also discussed. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of research on the range of aspirations and the potential theoretical and policy implications of such research.

Magazine‐distributed questionnaires for exploratory research: Advantages and problems

Although an increasing number of studies based on a magazine‐distributed questionnaire (MDQ) are being done, no formal discussion of the method can be found in the literature. Several problems are posed by MDQ research. Because of the problem of self‐selection bias, findings cannot be generalized and it is therefore essential to recognize and emphasize the exploratory role of the method. This paper is the first formal discussion of the potential efficiency of the magazine‐distributed questionnaire (MDQ) method for exploratory research in the social sciences. Easy access to respondents, low cost, speedy results, and confidentiality are potential advantages. Several aspects of the method for social science research are illustrated using information from a research project on self‐care children.

Telephone communication with children as part of the self‐care arrangement: A research note

Children in self‐care (latchkey) arrangements have been portrayed as a population at risk, and this has recently led to research investigations, social policy discussions, and legislative proposals. This study examines selected characteristics of mother, child, and family, and the amount of time children spend in self‐care, for their influences on the use of the telephone to communicate with children in self‐care. The analysis builds on earlier studies that indicate the importance of time, childs age, and mothers employment for understanding the growing phenomenon of self‐care. The results of multiple regression analyses are presented and discussed. As expected, the age of the child is the most important variable in predicting the length of time spent in self‐care. The age of the child and the length of time spent in self‐care are the strongest predictors of telephone communication with children in self‐care arrangements.

A three-stage process of reactions to change: Maternal employment and day care

This article delineates a three-stage process of reactions to social and economic changes that threaten traditional values. In the first stage, public and professional reactions are predominantly negative; in the second stage, predominantly ambivalent; and in the third stage, predominantly accepting. This three-stage process is used to analyze the reactions to increases in maternal employment and day care. A key issue for future investigation is whether the same process represents a predictable sequence of reactions to other social and economic changes that threaten traditional values.