Dimensions of Occupational Prestige

Abstract

Eight dimensions of occupational prestige are examined for their effect on the general prestige ratings accorded a set of professions in the medical situs, ranging in status from chiropractor to brain surgeon. Stepwise multiple regression analyzes the relative weight of these dimensions among the responses of 410 persons in various types of educational institution. The variable of "importance to society" appears less predictive of overall prestige than "prestige-other," a variable measuring the respondents' view of the general public's evaluation. The findings tend to suggest that public stereotypes exert a normative pressure on individual judgments, as do different linkages of respondents to the occupational structure.

A cluster analytic approach to interest measurement with the ACT Interest Inventory

“…Sociologists, on the other hand, have examined another domain of variables which show Strong relationships to career pathways. These include occupational values (Anderson, 1985;Lyson, 1984;Mortimer, 1975), sex role stereotyping (Hesselbart, 1977;Marini & Greenberger, 1978;McLaughlin, 1978), occupational prestige (Haug & Widdison, 1975;More & Suchner, 1976;Paral & Mueller, 1983), occupational status (Rosenfeld, 1979), and occupational knowledge (Howell, 1978). Markham (1983) noted individuals use a variety of job choice strategies, some even focusing on lifestyle variables and deeraphasizing task variables.…”