The design of the monograph concentrates on scientists and technicians, reviewing and synthesizing available research findings related to vocational choice. Recommendations are limited to the study of personal and environmental factors influencing career paths toward the sciences and technology during the educational years. Two primary purposes of the study are: (1) to guide future research and (2) to identify environmental factors which can be manipulated by manpower agencies to influence both the scientific manpower supply and the composition of that supply. The first major section organizes literature related to stimulus or environmental variables. The stimulus variables reviewed are the macro-social systems of: (1) social class, (2) geographic influences, (3) religion, (4) community, and (5) racial and ethnic background, and the micro-social systems of: (1) the family, (2) peer groups, and (3) the school. A second section discusses response variables including academic ability, aptitudes, academic achievement, interests, personality, and vocational choice. The final section synthesizes the research results, using the educational structure as the basic organizing system, and is divided into three major sections: the early school years, high school years, and collegiate years. Two brief appendixes offer a synthesis model and a survey of work in progress. A 43-page bibliography completes the document. (MW)