Factors influencing school achievement of children from low socioeconomic groups in Malaysia(1)

A general model is proposed relating the social and nutritional factors involved in school performance of children from poor socio-economic backgrounds. The model has been tested in a group of 263 primary school children who came from mainly lower-class families in Malaysia. School performance was assessed by the mark in a national school examination; the factors considered were race, sex, type of school attended, nutritional status and score in the Goodenough-Harris Draw-a-Man test, and also the family size, income and education of parents. Multiple linear regression and extended median test were used in the analysis. There were strong associations between poor school performance on the one hand and nutritional and socio-economic conditions on the other. However, detailed analysis showed that, for most sub-groups, nutritional status was not a direct causal factor in school performance. Both nutrition and school achievement reflected home circumstances, particularly family income. There were however significant differences among children of different races. Many of the pathways on the general model have been shown to be irrelevant in this group of children; those pathways which remain are likely to be causal. The Goodenough-Harris test showed highly significant differences between children of different ethnic groups. The general model seems justified as a framework for investigating school performance. It has been shown that simple correlation between factors is not a good guide to cause-and-effect relationships. Each deprived group is likely to have its own significant pathways, so that each group should be analysed rather than applying generalisations derived from other populations.     

Physical aggression: Effects of ethnicity of target and directionality of aggression

Physical aggression of members of a powerful majority ethnic group against an opponent either from a powerless and discriminated against minority or from their own group was tested as a function of aggression directionality and aggressor's attitudes. It was hypothesized that under bidirectional aggression where the opponent could aggress as well, members of the powerful majority group would adjust their aggressive responses to that of their opponent's regardless of his ethnic origin and regardless of aggressor's attitudes. However. under unidirectional aggression where the opponent was powerless, it was expected that those subjects who held unfavourable attitudes toward members of the minority group would be more aggressive against an opponent of that group than against an opponent of his own ethnic group. Subjects who had neutral attitudes would be equally aggressive toward all opponents. Ninety-six 11th grade vocational high school male students of Western origin, were given the opportunity to administer electric shocks to an opponent who was either of Western or Oriental origin in a competitive situation, Subjects were selected according to their attitudes toward Oriental Jews. Half expressed negative attitudes, the other half neutral attitudes. Half of the subjects expected their opponent to reciprocate shocks, the others did not. Contrary to expectations it was found that the attitudes of subjects of Western origin towards Orientals did not effect their aggressive behaviour. When aggression could not be reciprocated, all subjects were more aggressive toward an opponent of Oriental than of Western origin. The findings showed that when aggression was bidirectional, all subjects adjusted their aggressive behaviour, to their opponents'. However, they were less aggressive towards an opponent of Oriental than of Western origin.     

The effect of religiosity and ethnic origin on direct and indirect aggression among males and females: Some Israeli findings

Israeli society is characterized by significant internal divisions. Two of the most salient of these divisions within the Jewish population relate to (1) religiosity (religious vs. secular Jews) and (2) ethnic origin (Eastern [Asian and North African] vs. Western [European and American]). The aim of this study was to assess the effects of these social divisions on aggressive behavior and victimization to aggression among Israeli children. Three types of aggressive behavior (physical, verbal, and indirect) were investigated by means of peer estimation. The sample (N = 630) was composed of three age groups (8‐, 11‐, and 15‐year‐olds). The findings indicate that in general, secular respondents scored higher on aggressive behavior and victimization than their religious counterparts, and respondents of Eastern origin scored higher than those of Israeli or Western origin. The effect of both religiosity and ethnic origin was stronger among girls than among boys. Ethnic origin had no effect on any of the boys’ measures but did affect these measures among girls. Among boys, religiosity affected verbal and indirect aggression and victimization. Among girls, indirect aggression and victimization, as well as victimization to physical aggression, were affected by religiosity. As to the effect of age, similar to previous studies, in all types of aggression and victimization, the 11‐year‐olds scored highest and the 15‐year‐olds scored lowest. Differences between the three types of aggression and victimization, as well as various interactions between the variables, are reported. The results are discussed within the wider context of the role of religiosity and ethnic origin in Israeli society. Aggr. Behav. 28:281–298, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.     

8~15岁儿童贫富观的发展特点及其与成人的比较

儿童贫富观是其价值观的重要体现,贫富观形成是儿童社会化进程中的重要方面,然而目前国内尚缺乏中国儿童贫富观的系统研究。本研究以8~9岁、11~12岁、14~15岁以及成人(主要为大学生,年龄为20.7±1.32岁)为研究对象(N=186),结合开放性问题和结构化问卷,考察他们对于贫富的感知、公平判断、归因以及对于缓解贫困对策的认识。结果发现:控制社会经济地位之后,(1)8~9岁儿童对贫富的认识局限于表面特征,11~12岁更关注心理特征,而成人提及系统特征的比例更高;(2)8~9岁儿童较其他年龄组更倾向于对贫富做不公平的判断;(3)在贫富的归因和缓解贫困的对策上,儿童和成人都认可个人因素的重要性,但成人更多关注国家政策和社会的影响,并且认为消除贫困是不可能的。中国儿童贫富观的发展与西方已有研究相比,既有共性也有文化特异性。     

Ethnic and sex differences in occupational stereotyping by elementary school children

As part of the formative evaluation of an educational television and print package, fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade public school Black, Hispanic, and Anglo children were surveyed regarding career choice and perceptions of the appropriateness of selected occupations for male and female adults and children. Responses were analyzed by ethnic membership and sex. Results indicated that in general Hispanic and Anglo girls chose more non traditional, higher-status occupations than Black girls. For boys, however, there was no clear interaction between sex and ethnic group in career choice. Girls and boys in all three ethnic groups indicated preference for careers stereotyped for their own sex, although girls—particularly Anglo girls—showed a greater tendency to cross sex-stereotyped lines. In addition, while both girls and boys in all three groups stereotyped as appropriate only for females those occupations regarded as traditionally female, traditionally male occupations were stereotyped more frequently by boys than by girls, who tended to consider them appropriate for both sexes. No differences appeared between ethnic groups in boys' responses to male and female adult occupations. In general Black girls tended to hold the most stereotypic views of job appropriateness, while Hispanic girls did not show a clear trend. Black boys tended to stereotype more than the other two groups with reference to child jobs on a boy-stereotype scale. Some differences also appeared in both boys' and girls' responses on the basis of a median split between high and low stereotypers on boy and girl child-job stereotype scales. In general, subjects who stereotyped child jobs tended also to stereotype adult occupations, suggesting a link between the child's current experience and the more remote world of adults. Implications of the findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.     

Evidence on age and ethnic status bias in factor scores and the comparison score for the AAMD adaptive behavior scale-school edition

This report analyzes the contribution of gender, ethnic status, age, and school classification to the five factor scores and the comparison score of the Adaptive Behavior Scale-School Edition (ABS-SE). These factor scores were derived from extensive analysis of the performance of subjects of different ages and different levels of mental retardation. The comparison score evolved from discriminant analysis of the factor scores and is computed as a weighted sum of the three factor scores from Part One of the ABS-SE. The results of the ANOVAs conducted to test the main and interaction effects showed significant mean differences between normal, mildly retarded, and moderately to severely retarded subjects over the age range from 3 through 16 years on the ABS-SE factor and comparison scores. In general, there was no significant contribution of either gender or ethnic status to scores from ages 7 through 16, but there was a significant difference attributable to ethnic status with a meaningful amount of explained variance in the community and self-sufficiency and comparison scores of subjects aged 3–6. Although these differences were significant, children 3–6 years old classified as white did not necessarily perform better on all factor scores than those of minority ethnic groups. Discussion of the results in the context of contemporary criteria for test bias and of competing explanations for ethnic group differences in performance of young children on the ABS-SE follows the presentation of the findings. The results provide additional evidence for the validity of the ABS-SE factor and comparison scores and show that in general the factor and comparison scores are not affected by gender or ethnic status.     

Grade differences in reading motivation among Hong Kong primary and secondary students

Background Most previous studies in Western societies have demonstrated a general decline in school motivation. However, it is not clear whether motivational decline occurs uniformly for all students. The moderating effects of individual and cultural differences on students' motivational decline need to be further explored. Aims This study aimed to examine the grade differences in students' reading motivation, including self‐efficacy, intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation, and social motivation, in a Chinese educational context. Grade by gender and grade by school‐average achievement interactions were also checked to explore the role of individual differences in students' motivational changes. Sample A total of 1,794 students (860 boys and 934 girls) volunteered to take part in this study, of whom 648 were Grade 4–6 students from 11 primary schools, 627 were Grade 7–9 students from 12 junior secondary schools, and 519 Grade 10–11 students from 6 senior secondary schools. Method A Chinese version of the Motivation for Reading Questionnaire (CRMQ) was administered to all participants during regular class periods by their teachers. Reliability analyses and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were first undertaken to assess the psychometric quality of the CRMQ. Then, multisample CFA was conducted to examine whether the factor structure of the CRMQ was equivalent across students at different grade levels. Grade differences in various reading motivation constructs as well as grade × gender and grade × school‐average achievement interactions were examined using multiple‐indicator‐multiple‐causes modelling. Results The findings of this study supported the reliability and the factor structure of the CRMQ in measuring the reading motivation of Chinese students at different grade levels. The factor pattern of the CRMQ was invariant across primary, junior secondary, and senior secondary students in multisample CFA. As far as the scores on the four reading motivation constructs were concerned, students scored most highly on intrinsic motivation, followed by self‐efficacy, extrinsic motivation, and social motivation. Significant grade differences were found in all reading motivation constructs whereas only a few grade by gender and grade by school‐average interactions were found. Conclusion Consistent with previous studies in Western countries, the findings suggest that motivational decline is also a common phenomenon among Chinese students in Hong Kong. In addition, the pattern of motivational differences is generally consistent among students with different genders and from schools with different achievement levels. The implications of these findings for understanding Chinese students' reading motivation and for planning effective reading instruction to enhance their motivation are discussed.     

Ethnic Identity in Emerging Adults in Sub‐Saharan Africa and the USA,and Its Associations with Psychological Well‐Being

Ethnic identity as a social dimension of identity is argued to be developmentally important for psychological well‐being. However, the relationships between these constructs are mainly examined in Western contexts, amongst dominant–non‐dominant groups. We investigate ethnic identity across the mainstream group of a prototypical Western society (the USA) and several multi‐ethnic sub‐Saharan African countries (Cameroon, Kenya, South Africa, and Zambia), as well as how it relates to psychological well‐being. A total of 1255 university students (61.8% females, M_age = 20.94 years, SD = 2.97) completed a questionnaire with ethnic identity and psychological well‐being measures. Results indicated that ethnic identity was most salient in two different South African ethnocultural samples and least salient in a mainstream US sample. These results suggest that groups that are more exposed to ethnic strain in multicultural societies tend to have more salient ethnic identities. Furthermore, the underlying structure in the ethnic identity psychological well‐being relationship was similar across groups. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

初中生人格类型划分及人格类型发展特点研究

目的：划分初中生人格类型及考察初中生人格类型的年级与性别特点。方法：本研究使用初中生人格发展自我评定量表对某地区3602名初中生被试施测,使用潜在类别分析对初中生人格类型进行划分,使用无序多分变量的Logistic回归考察初中生人格类型的年级与性别特点。结果：依据人格类型划分的相关理论和潜在类别分析的拟合指数,初中生可划分为低控型,过度控制型和适应型三种人格类型,其中适应型人数占大多数。方差分析结果表明适应型在初中生人格五维度得分均显著高于另两类;过度控制型有低情绪稳定性和低外倾性,同时有中等程度的亲社会性、智能特征和认真自控水平,低控型人格类型在大部分人格维度得分均较低。随年级增长,初中生适应型人数比例有显著下降趋势,过度控制型和低控型比例有所上升。性别差异方面,女生人格类型的适应型人数比例显著高于男生,过度控制型和低控型比例则显著低于男生。结论：依据自我控制和自我适应理论,初中生三种人格类型的划分得到重复验证,人格类型有显著的年级和性别特点。     

Intolerance of ambiguity and socio-politico ideology: A multidimensional analysis

This study tested the relative plausibility of three, main theories and/or hypotheses concerning the relationship between intolerance of ambiguity and socio-politico ideology: (a) authoritarian personality theory, (b) the extremism hypothesis and (c) the context hypothesis. The sample consisted of 195 Swedish high school students randomly selected from five different high schools from greater Stockholm in the spring of 1974. Separate factor analyses of the Budner Intolerance of Ambiguity Scale and the S4 Conservatism Scale generated seven factors of ambiguity intolerance and five factors of socio-politico ideology, Scattergram, correlation and trend analyses disclosed a number of statistically significant relationships between the various dimensions of ambiguity intolerance and socio-politico ideology. The main trend of the results tended to confirm authoritarian personality theory concerning the relationship between intolerance of ambiguity and racism or ethnic prejudice. Furthermore, some support was found for the context hypothesis, with regards to the relationship between general intolerance of ambiguity and general conservatism, among other things. No support could be found for the extremism hypothesis.     

中学生物理学业情绪问卷的修订及调查研究

以青少年学业情绪问卷为基础,结合物理学科特点对问卷项目进行修改,修订中学生物理学业情绪问卷.以314名初二到高二学生为被试进行预测,通过验证性因素分析对问卷项目进行调整,最终问卷包括67个项目.经检验问卷的内部一致性信度、分半信度和效标效度符合测量学的要求.在此基础上,选用728名初二到高三学生为被试.结果发现:(1)总体来看,男生,尤其是来自重点中学的男生,其积极物理学业情绪要高于女生,而女生的消极物理学业情绪要高于男生;(2)重点中学的初中生的积极低唤醒物理学业情绪得分显著高于高中生,且重点中学的初中生的消极低唤醒物理学业情绪得分显著低于高中生,而普通中学则正好相反;(3)在物理学业情绪中,积极高唤醒和积极低唤醒的所有因子与物理学业成就皆呈显著正相关,而消极高唤醒(仅羞愧)和消极低唤醒(厌倦、无助、心烦-疲乏)与物理学业成就呈显著负相关.     

The applicability of familism to diverse ethnic groups: a preliminary study

The author examined the extent to which familism, which is generally regarded as a Hispanic cultural value, is applicable to other ethnic groups as well. An ethnically diverse sample of 318 Hispanic, non-Hispanic White, and non-Hispanic Black young adults completed measures of attitudinal familism, collectivism, and interdependence. Confirmatory factor analyses indicated that the scoring algorithm for the familism measure fit the data well, both overall and across ethnic groups. The author conducted analyses to ascertain (a) differences in the factor structure of familism, (b) mean differences in endorsement of familism, and (c) differences in associations of familism with collectivism and interdependence between Hispanics and the other ethnic groups. Few significant or noteworthy differences emerged in any of these analyses, suggesting that familism may be applicable to and may operate similarly within diverse ethnic groups. The author discussed findings in terms of convergence between familism and other collectivist and interdependent value orientations.     

Ethnicity and Language Contributions to Dimensions of Parent Involvement

This study examined ethnic and language group differences on dimensions of parent-rated and teacher-rated parent involvement after adjusting for the influence of family socioeconomic factors. A total of 179 teachers and 481 parents provided information on parent school involvement for a sample of ethnically and linguistically diverse first-grade children attending one of three school districts in Texas. Four groups were examined: White, Black, Hispanic-English speaking, and Hispanic-Spanish speaking. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis supported four parent-reported involvement dimensions (positive perceptions about school, communication, parent-teacher shared responsibility, and parent school-based involvement) and three teacher-reported dimensions (alliance, general parent involvement, and teacher initiation of involvement). Data generally supported the hypothesized ethnic and language group differences in parent involvement and the moderating effect of dimension of parent involvement on group differences. Implications for school psychologists are discussed.     

Individual and Community Resilience Factors Among Lesbian,Gay, Bisexual,Queer and Questioning Youth and Adults in Israel

Drawing on resilience theories, this study examined the individual and community factors of Israeli lesbians, gays, bisexuals, queers, and questioning (LGBQs) that contribute to positive mental health and the degree to which individual and community protective factors mitigate the adverse effect of risk factors for poor mental health. Differences in resilience factors between LGBQ youth and adults were explored. Data were collected on 890 LGBQ youth and adults. Findings emphasize the role of community‐level resilience factors in the lives of LGBQs, and that these support systems differ slightly between the two age groups. Among youth, family support was both a strong predictor for well‐being and a protective factor for mental distress. Although family support was found as a resilience factor among adults as well, other community‐level factors (friends’ support, LGBT connectedness and having steady partner) were found as protective factors for poorer mental health. These findings suggest for efforts on fostering familial support for LGBQ youth and a multi‐level system that offers support at the familial, peer, relationship and community levels for both LGBQ youth and adults.     

初中生认同的亲社会行为的初步研究

通过对8名11～14岁初中生的深入访谈,初步探讨了处于初中阶段的青少年认同的亲社会行为。发现:(1)初中生最认同的亲社会行为是帮助行为,其次是交往行为。此外,安慰行为、公益行为、礼貌行为和遵规行为也被他们认同;(2)初中生对不同行为主体间发生的亲社会行为的认同有明显差异,他们更关心发生在他们之间的亲社会行为;(3)普通学校、打工子弟学校的初中生对帮助行为和交往行为认同的比率差异明显;(4)初中生认同的亲社会行为的种类不存在明显的性别差异。     

汉、蒙、哈民族初中生早期问题行为研究

本研究采用问卷法,以甘肃省652名汉族、蒙古族、哈萨克族初中生为样本,考察了民族初中生早期问题行为的特点及其与家庭教育的关系。结果显示,汉族聚居区的汉族初中生在早期问题行为的6个因子上均值均接近或超过"稍有问题"的临界值,为本研究中的各民族之首。与哈族、蒙族相比,汉族家教方式中存在的问题更多、更严重;与同少数民族杂居在一起的汉族比,汉族聚居区家长的家教方式中存在的问题更为严重。相关不当家教方式对初中生早期问题行为的影响效应非常显著。     

Factor analysis of the McCarthy scales for groups of white and Mexican-American children

Factor analyses of the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities (McCarthy Scales) were performed on separate groups of Anglo (N = 186) and Mexican-American (N = 126) children to determine the comparability of underlying structures and to examine the construct validity of the McCarthy Scales for each ethnic group. The subjects, ranging in age from 5.6 to 7.6 years, were randomly selected from school enrollment rosters and stratified by age, sex, and ethnicity. A principal component analysis produced three factors for the Anglo as well as the Mexican-American groups. Examination of the coefficients of congruence indicated a close similarity among the matching factors. Additionally, the factors which emerged for the Anglos and Mexican-Americans corresponded to the scales constituting the McCarthy Scales. The results of the study provide evidence for the construct validity of the McCarthy Scales for children of two ethnic groups.     

A test of the social development model during the transition to junior high with Mexican American adolescents

Mexican American adolescents have higher rates of externalizing problems than their peers from other ethnic and racial groups. To begin the process of understanding factors related to externalizing problems in this population, this study used the social development model (SDM) and prospective data across the transition to junior high school from 750 diverse Mexican American families. In addition, the authors examined whether familism values provided a protective effect for relations within the model. Results showed that the SDM worked well for this sample. As expected, association with deviant peers was the primary predictor of externalizing behaviors. There was support for a protective effect in that adolescents with higher familism values had slower rates of increase in association with deviant peers from 5th to 7th grades than those with lower familism values. Future research needs to determine whether additional culturally appropriate modifications of the SDM would increase its usefulness for Mexican American adolescents.     

Nursery school personality and political orientation two decades later

The present study reports on the personality attributes of nursery school children who two decades later were reliably stratified along a liberal/conservative dimension. An unprecedented analytical opportunity existed to evaluate how the political views of these young adults related to assessments of them when in nursery school, prior to their having become political beings. Preschool children who 20 years later were relatively liberal were characterized as: developing close relationships, self-reliant, energetic, somewhat dominating, relatively under-controlled, and resilient. Preschool children subsequently relatively conservative at age 23 were described as: feeling easily victimized, easily offended, indecisive, fearful, rigid, inhibited, and relatively over-controlled and vulnerable. IQ during nursery school did not relate to subsequent liberalism/conservatism but did relate in subsequent decades. Personality correlates of liberalism/conservatism for the subjects as young adults were also reported: conservatives were described in terms congruent with previous formulations in the literature; liberals displayed personality commonalities but also manifested gender differences. Some implications of the results are briefly discussed.     

歧视知觉与留守初中生孤独感和问题行为：师生关系和同学关系的作用

采用问卷法对894名农村留守初中生进行调查,探讨歧视知觉与留守初中生孤独感和问题行为的关系,并考察师生关系和同学关系的作用。结果表明,歧视知觉正向预测留守初中生的孤独感和问题行为,师生关系、同学关系负向预测留守初中生的孤独感和问题行为;师生关系削弱了歧视知觉对母亲外出留守初中生孤独感的作用,同学关系削弱了歧视知觉对双亲外出留守初中生孤独感的作用;但师生关系和同学关系增强了歧视知觉对母亲外出和双亲外出留守初中生问题行为的作用。研究结果提示,歧视知觉是影响留守初中生孤独感和问题行为的危险因素,良好的师生关系和同学关系有利于降低留守初中生的孤独感、有利于预防和减少留守初中生的问题行为。