Option Prop Changing Default Selected Value - Jquery

Question

So I have a selection list, and if the default value hasn't been changed from --- then return to the form false. Pretty much for validation purposes so we know they picked a title. The problem is that for some reason prop() is changing the default value to the bottom most value. Is there a way to keep this from happening? Here's a JSFiddle:

JSFiddle Link

And here's the code:

HTML

<form onSubmit="return checkSelect()">
<select id="title" name="title"> <option value="---">---</option> <option value="Administrator">Administrator</option> <option value="Asst. Admin.">Asst. Admin.</option> <option value="Director">Director</option> <option value="Asst. Director">Asst. Director</option> <option value="IT Director">IT Director</option> <option value="Manager">Manager</option> <option value="Medical Officer">Medical Officer</option> <option value="Other">Other</option> </select>
    <input type="submit" value="submit" />
</form>

​JS

function checkSelect(){
try{
    var val = $('#title option').attr('selected', 'selected').val();
    alert(val);
    return false;
    }
    catch(err){
        alert(err.message);
    }
}

​EDIT

I tried to change to attr() to see if that would help, but it produces the same problem :(

Answer 1

The attr(attribute, value) function you use is setting the attribute to a value, see the attr doc. Try changing:

var val = $('#title option').attr('selected', 'selected').val();

to:

var val = $('#title option:selected').val();

See this jsfiddle.