Factors related to college matriculation decisions among same residents African American youth.

This qualitative analysis investigates eight sets of African American youth (16 students). Student sets were from same households and attended the same high school. Subjects were administered a 21-item paper and pencil survey to determine 1) if they have a familial value for education, and 2) what influences promote or negate that value, in tum encouraging or impeding college attendance. Value is determined by the proportion of student sets with identical responses to survey item three and those with contrasting responses to that same item. Influences are determined by the frequency of responses to a particular survey item. Comparisons are made between and within households to include: congruents versus incongruents, first student versus second student, and college bound students versus work bound students. Percentages for congruents versus incongruents showed a 3:1 ratio, suggesting education as a value. A chi square goodness-of-fit test yielded an insignificant value, suggesting that college is not a familial value among these student sets; however, the small n-value leads to the assumption that increased subjects could improve the chi square value. The 3:1 ratio is accepted and background literature is provided as support. Findings are summarized in four tables and one pie graph