The purpose of the study described in this paper was to identify those factors which affect Year 9 students at Sha Tin College, Hong Kong, as they make option choices at the end of Key Stage 3 (Year 9: age 14). The main focus of the investigation was how these factors influence the selection or rejection of the four subjects offered under the heading of Design and Technology. In particular, the effects of attitude, gender and ethnicity were considered. The subjects responded to a questionnaire, and 10 per cent of the sample were interviewed. Responses were analysed using both descriptive and inferential statistics and results were then used to make recommendations about how the uptake of Design and Technology could be improved in the selected school.
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