Attitudinal and Normative Beliefs as Antecedents of Female Occupational Choice

Abstract

Fishbein's model was extended to female occupational choice. Normative beliefs and the attitudinal components of the model, as applied to female career choices, were expected to predict subjects' behavioral intentions better than would attitude alone. Eighty-eight sophomore women filled out and returned field survey questionnaires consisting of scales to measure the necessary components of the model. Additional measures were also taken. The normative beliefs component of the model was found to be the major predictor of behavioral intentions. The attitudinal component was relatively unimportant. Other findings were consistent with the model. Implications of the results are discussed.