-- Reports-

Thii literature review of.faCtors affecting the postsecondary,decisionmaking process,. with special emphasis on parentt'.and students ' attitudes.and characteristics, focuses, in the first section, 'on research on these topics: (1) student and family.. characteristics (ability, expectations, motivation, race and sex, family background including genetic influences, values and role, models','and family income); (2) school, and community characteristics (teachers ' encouragement, counseling, peer networks, quality and climate of school, andcurricul(um placement);(43) alternatives available after high school ' (noncollege alteratives such hs employment, military service or marriage, postsecondary educational alternatives, and influencing factors such as proximity and cost); and.(4),knowledge of alternatives. Part. II of the book disbusses the development of the parents ' section of the.High'School and Beyond questionnaire, Which was designed to gather detailed parenta