Option Choice for Girls and Boys

Abstract

Children in the third year of ten co‐educational comprehensive schools were asked to identify the factors that influenced their subject choice. Both sexes named the same influences on their choices in general. More detailed analyses of subject choice in physics and technical craft showed that boys enjoyed these subjects more than girls and perceived greater support from parents, teachers and friends for continuing with them. This support was one of the strongest predictors of subject choice. Sex had no direct influence on subject choice in physics, but operated indirectly through other variables such as enjoyment of the subject, person orientation and perceived usefulness for getting a job. However boys were more likely than girls to continue with technical craft even when other factors had been taken into account.