Responses of 200 urban disadvantaged and 200 middle-class boys and girls from Grades 4 through 7 to the What I Like to Do interest inventory were analyzed by factorial sex-by-economic-level analysis of variance. Disadvantaged Ss had higher means (greater interest) on all 8 scales with significant differences for art, music, social studies, and quiet play. Boys were more interested in active play and manual arts; girls showed more interest in art, music, and home arts. No significant interactions were found.
References
1.
BledsoeJ. C.BrownI. D.The interests of preadolescents: A longitudinal study. Journal of Experimental Education, 1965, 33, 337–345.
2.
BogerJ. H.An experimental study of the effects of perceptual training on group IQ scores of elementary pupils in rural ungraded schools. Journal of Educational Research, 1952, 46, 43–52.
3.
BonsallM. R.MeyersC. E.ThorpeL. P.Examiner manual for What I Like to Do. Chicago: Science Research Associates, 1954.
4.
FeldmanS.WeinerM.The use of a standardized reading achievement test with two levels of socio-economic status pupils. Journal of Experimental Education, 1964, 32, 269–274.
5.
HortonC. P.CrumpE. P.Growth and development: XI. Descriptive analysis of the backgrounds of 76 Negro children whose scores are above or below average on the Merrill-Palmer Scale of Mental Tests at three years of age. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 1962, 100, 255–265.
6.
StewartL. H.Occupational level scale of children's interest. Educational and Psychological Measurement, 1959, 21, 401–410.
7.
ThorpeL. P.MeyersC. E.BonsallM. R.What I Like to Do. Chicago: Science Research Associates, 1954.
8.
TylerL. E.A comparison of the interests of English and American school children. Journal of Genetic Psychology, 1956, 88, 175–181.
