Abstract
The thesis develops a theoretical context appropriate to the empirical study of levels and patterns of participation of young industrial employees in educational youth provision. Four hypotheses are generated, concerning the participation patterns and orientations expected to be found among young industrial employees. These pertain to (a) participation levels in educational youth provision, relative to those in other forms of organised activity undertaken outside work; (b) relationships between participation levels and age, educational level and social class characteristics; (c) factors associated with participation levels; (d) orientations towards social participation. The research hypotheses are investigated by means of an empirical survey of young adults, aged 16 to 20, employed at technical apprentice and operator level in eight manufacturing companies in the Guildford area. Interviews, based on a structured interview schedule and supplemented by the administration of self-completion questionnaires, were conducted with a sample of 180 young adults stratified proportionately by age and occupational level, and disproportionately by company. It is found that less than one-third of young industrial employees in the research population currently participate in youth organisations. The majority have participated in some form of educational youth provision at some time during their teenage years. Associations are demonstrated between participatio levels and age, educational level, and social class characteristics. Indices reflecting some dimensions of hypothesized factors of perceived 'adultness' and authoritarianism are shown to be associated with current participation levels. Findings concerning the educational priorities and orientations towards social participation of the research population suggest that activities orientated towards social association are more highly valued and more frequently engaged in than those orientated towards social service or social action.