Differences between Economically Disadvantaged Students Who Volunteer and Do not Volunteer

This article reports a study of differences between lower socioeconomic status high school students who volunteered and did not volunteer for a federally sponsored Work Training Program. Contrary to hypothesized differences, it appears that students who volunteer are likely to be students for whom "life chances" are otherwise poorest in terms of lower school achievement levels, lower academic support from parents and friends, lower self-conceptions of academic ability, lower educational aspirations, and lower occupational plan levels. Only in the area of teacher support for academic achievement did the volunteers exceed the nonvolunteers. There was no difference in academic ability for volunteers and nonvolunteers as measured by intelligence tests. It is concluded that those who sought to avail themselves of economic and educational opportunities were those for whom compensatory programs were developed.