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My honors sociology senior thesis
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Military Recruitment of High School Students
Emily Beavers
Literature Review The military demographics before AFV
(Stouffer et al 1949; Monskos 1971; White 2004; Baker 2008; Browne-Marshall 2008)
Demographics of Soldiers post AVF (Teachman et al 1993 ; Department of Defense 1998; Bachman et al 2000; Griffith 2008)
Literature Review cont. Military benefits for students (Ayers 2006;
Carnevale 2006)
Recruitment within high schools (Lewn 2003; Dobbs 2005; Feder 2006; Berkhart 2008)
Theory Power Elite (Mills)
“ men whose positions enable them to transcend the ordinary environments…they are in positions to make decisions having major consequences” (Mills 2003:303)
Rational Choice (Merton 2008) People choose the best option to achieve a
goal.
Hypothesis Students of lower socioeconomic status
experience higher rates of military recruitment
Students of racial minorities experience higher rates of military recruitment
Students of lower academic achievement experience higher rates of military recruitment
Methods Quantitative
Surveys 20 questions 257 respondents
Concepts Qualitative
Interviews – Army recruiters Seven interviews
Results Descriptive Stats
59%
41%
Socioeconomic
Higher ($50,000 or more)
Lower ( $28,000 to $49,000)
4.80%
95.20%
Race
Racial Minori-tiesWhites
Results Descriptive Stats
63%
26%
11%
Education
High Academic Average AcademicLower Academic
Results Descriptive Stats
More than Once a Week
1-3 times a month
Less than Once a Month
15.40%
56.30%
2.30%
How often did Recruiters Visist High Schools
How often did Recruiters Visist High Schools
Results Descriptive Stats
36%
64%
Did Recruiters Personally
Contact Stu-dentsYes No
49.50%50.50%
How Often Did Re-cruiters Contacted
Students Personally
Once a Month or More
Once a Year for More than One Year or at Least Once
Results Cont. Prevalence of Recruitment
Table 16: Frequency of Personal Contact by AGI
Frequency of Personal Contact
AGI$28,000 - $49,000 $50,000 or More
Once a month or more
42.1% 54.4%
Once a year for more than one year
or at least once57.9% 45.6%
Total 100% 100%N 38 57
Significance .237 .237
Results Cont. Prevalence of Recruitment
Table 18: Personal Contact by Recruiter by Race
Personal Contact
Race
White Racial Minority
Yes 35.1% 53.8%
No 64.9% 46.2%
Total 100% 100%
N 239 13
Significance .143 .143
Results Cont. Prevalence of Recruitment
Table 19: Frequency of Personal Contact by Race
Frequency of Personal Contact
Race
White Racial Minorities
Once a month or more 48.9% 57.1%
Once a year for more than one year or at least
once51.1% 42.9%
Total 100% 100%
N 88 7
Significance .673 .673
Table 21: Frequency of Personal Contact by Academic Achievement
Frequency of Personal Contact
Grades
High Academic Achievement
Average Academic Achievement
Lower Academic Achievement
Once a month or more
43.3% 62.5% 54.5%
Once a year for more than one year
or at least once56.6% 37.5% 45.5%
Total 100% 100% 100%
N 60 24 11
Significance .918 .918 .918
Results Cont. Prevalence of Recruitment
Results cont.Table 22: Motivations by Socioeconomic Status
MotivationsSocioeconomic Status
$28,000 - $49,000 $50,000 or more
Scholarships
Yes
No
Total
Significance
28.6%
71.4%
100%
.221
50%
50%
100%
.221
Career
Yes
No
Total
Significance
71.4%
28.6%
100%
.127
44.4%
55.6%
100%
.127
N (14) (18)
Results cont.Table 23: Motivations by Academic Achievement
MotivationsAcademic Achievement
High Academic Achievement
Average Academic Achievement
Lower Academic Achievement
Scholarships
Yes
No
Total
Significance
43.8%
56.2%
100%
.905
33.3%
66.7%
100%
.905
40.0%
60.0%
100%
.905
Career
Yes
No
Total
Significance
43.8%
56.2%
100%
.182
50.0%
50.0%
100%
.182
80%
20%
100%
.182
N (16) (6) (10)
Results cont. Interviews
Five (of seven) army recruiters reported the demographics of those recruited
Of the five recruiters 4 reported visiting their schools once a
week Those schools varied in socioeconomic
status but had at least one majority Black school
Results cont. Interviews
Of those five interviewed only three recruiters reported student enlistments sums
Two of the three reported 24-26 students Both recruiters varied in racial
makeup and socioeconomic status One of the three reported 80 students
They recruited from majority Black, lower income students
Discussion Socioeconomic status did not seem to affect
recruitment
Academic status did seem to affect recruitment
Consistent with rational choice theory
Discussion cont. “You’d expect me say we recruit from the
‘holler’ and the ‘ghetto’ but we don’t” Turns out recruiters do approach racial
minorities first. Constant with Rational Choice Theory
Power Elite
Discussion cont. Other options beside the military
should be given to high school students
Bigger, Better, Sample