Ethnic differences in adolescent achievement. An ecological perspective.

Using data collected from a large sample of high school students, the authors challenge three widely held explanations for the superior school performance of Asian-American adolescents, and the inferior performance of African- and Hispanic-American adolescents: group differences in (a) parenting practices, (b) familial values about education, and (c) youngsters' beliefs about the occupational rewards of academic success. They found that White youngsters benefit from the combination of authoritative parenting and peer support for achievement, whereas Hispanic youngsters suffer from a combination of parental authoritarianism and low peer support. Among Asian-American students, peer support for academic excellence offsets the negative consequences of authoritarian parenting. Among African-American youngsters, the absence of peer support for achievement undermines the positive influence of authoritative parenting.     

Measuring Readiness and Success at a Higher Education Institution

This study investigated readiness as a correlate of academic success among beginning university students. A total of 829 first-time entering students from a large business sciences faculty were participants (males = 319, females = 510, mean age = 19, SD = 0.50 years). They completed the Academic Readiness Questionnaire (Lemmens, 2010) during the first-year orientation week. Data on academic success, consisting of subject marks and credits were collected in 2009 after a results verification process. Data were analysed with three separate multiple regression analyses. The first analysis consisted of the overall student sample, the second and third consisted of the black and the white students separated from the overall student sample. The main findings reveal that high school marks, the number of subjects in first year (credits registered), goal orientation, race, learning-efficacy, gender and the geographical area of high school have a direct relationship with academic success. The variables that predict academic success for black students are high school marks, credits registered, and parental education. The variables that predict academic success for white students are high school marks, goal orientation, credits registered, learning-efficacy, gender, and parental education.     

Validation du Questionnaire sur l’implication parentale dans le suivi scolaire (QIPSS) chez des parents d’élèves du primaire en contexte défavorisé et pluriethnique

IntroductionThe effect of parental school involvement on children's academic success has a long-standing basis in research. However, few validated measures of parental involvement exist.ObjectiveThis study aims to assess the validity of the Questionnaire sur l’implication parentale dans le suivi scolaire (QIPSS), an instrument developed from a synthesis of existing parental involvement models in the literature.MethodThe validation sample included 711 parents of elementary students who mostly present an immigrant background. This sample was collected in five schools located in disadvantaged areas. This study includes two time points collected over 2 consecutive school years.ResultsThe QIPSS has good construct validity and satisfactory predictive validity. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses allowed us to generate a model of parental involvement comprising five dimensions, some of which predicting students’ academic performance a year later.ConclusionFindings are discussed in light of previous parental involvement studies. The QIPSS is proved to be a good tool to account for parental involvement in a research context. Nonetheless, children's outcomes other than academic success should be taken into account in future studies.     

父母和教师自主支持与高中生发展的关系

采用分层抽样法在河南和云南抽取4988名高中生实施问卷调查,考察父母自主支持和教师自主支持与高中生学业、个性社会性和生涯发展的关系。结果发现：（1）学业和生涯方面,女生发展好于男生,重点学校学生发展好于普通学校学生;个性社会性方面,重点学校学生发展高于普通学校学生,高二、高三学生发展显著高于高一学生;（2）父母和教师自主支持显著正向预测高中生发展。父母自主支持对学业和个性社会性发展的影响显著高于其对生涯发展的影响;教师自主支持对学业发展影响最大,对生涯发展影响最小;（3）教师自主支持对高中生三方面发展的影响均显著大于父母自主支持;（4）父母和教师自主支持对高中生学业和生涯发展存在显著交互作用。     

Type A behavior,academic aspirations,and academic success1

This study investigated the link between the Type A coronary-prone behavior pattern and attainment of success in an academic setting. First semester college freshmen were administered 3 sets of questionnaires during the course of the fall semester that were designed to assess academic activities, outside responsibilities, and importance of academic success. Indices of actual academic performance were obtained from university records. The hypotheses that Type A students (1) would be involved in more activities, (2) place greater importance on academic success, and (3) actually achieve higher performance levels than Type B students, were confirmed. In addition, the results found that compared to Type B, the Type A students perceived more parental pressure, came from higher SES families, and were more clear as to what was expected of them. Implications for further research are discussed.     

Identité et performances scolaires. Les élèves issus de groupes minoritaires au québec,leurs points de vue

This article examines the disparities in school performance within the broader minority community of Quebec, itself made up of various immigrant subgroups. It compares academic achievement among students from Sub-Saharan Africa and the West Indies with outcomes for students born in Quebec, Canada, and elsewhere. Interviews have revealed that factors such as ethnic origin, social origin, and the time spent in the new country, in addition to the influence exerted by the immigrant milieu itself, work together to affect minority groups in different ways as they encounter what they perceive to be discrimination in Quebec society, and how the distinct individual identities that emerge as a result determine students' school success or failure.     

Expanding Knowledge of Parental Involvement in Children's Secondary Education: Connections with High School Seniors' Academic Success

This paper analyzes data from the parent and student components of the National Educational Longitudinal Study of 1988 to investigate family educational involvement in secondary education. It examines connections between parental involvement practices and the educational outcomes of high school seniors. Utilizing multiple involvement indicators for the 8th and 12th grades, the study concludes that the nature of relationships between parental involvement and 12th grade educational outcomes depends on the type of parental practices and educational outcomes considered. Parental involvement indicators are not associated with achievement growth between the 8th and 12th grades. However, a number of parental involvement indicators are associated with seniors' enrollment in an academic high school program and with their coursework in core academic subjects. High levels of educational expectations, consistent encouragement, and actions that enhance the learning opportunities of children are the family practices that are positively associated with the above educational experiences of high school seniors. The relationships between parental involvement and educational outcomes exist regardless of students' socioeconomic or race/ethnic background and regardless of whether parental practices are measured in the middle grades or in high school.     

Fighting Back Against Achievement Culture: Cheating as an Act of Rebellion in a High-Pressure Secondary School

This article argues that document analysis can add a more nuanced understanding of student ethical reasoning and enhance current approaches to cheating research. To demonstrate the benefits of this approach, I examine the cheating epidemic at Stuyvesant High School through editorials in their school newspaper. Stuyvesant is known for academically talented students focused on elite college admission. My findings suggest that the influence of achievement culture on cheating is more complex than what was captured by the school’s internal cheating survey or in traditional cheating research. Further, contrary to existing expectations, students do not collaborate purely to boost their own academic performance. In a system they define as unfair and rigged, they collaborate even when it puts them at an academic disadvantage. The finding that there is a sense of communal rebellion against their achievement-oriented context demonstrates the efficacy of document analysis as a complementary approach for understanding student cheating.     

Acculturation,Economic Stress,Social Relationships and School Satisfaction Among Migrant Children in Urban China

Rural to urban migration has become a prominent phenomenon in China. In linking migration to children’s school trajectories, this mixed-methods study explored a range of cultural and contextual factors that contribute to Chinese children’s school wellbeing in the migratory process. The key variables included acculturative attitudes, economic stress, and relationships with family, teachers and peers. The study drew upon survey data from a sample of 301 Chinese migrant students (4th–9th grade) together with in-depth interviews involving ten selected students focusing on how migrant children’s school happiness and productivity are influenced by acculturation, economic hardship, and social relationships. The quantitative analysis indicated the critical role of integrative states in promoting school satisfaction and achievement. Migrant children with better social relations scored higher levels of hope, which in turn contributed to better school outcomes. Contrary to previous findings, economic stress did not hinder school outcomes for these Chinese migrant children, but appeared to act as a positive motivational factor for pursing academic success. The qualitative analysis echoed the quantitative findings, and provided further explanations for the complexity and particularity of these phenomena.     

Mexican-American High School Students: Educational Aspirations

Acculturation, academic achievement, and parental expectations were shown to predict the educational aspirations of Mexican-American high school students. Acculturation was also shown to mediate Mexican-American student's attitudes concerning the importance they placed on future job security and career success. Implications for counselors and educators are discussed.     

The Double Cohort retention and academic success comparison: are students in the new Ontario secondary school program disadvantaged?

In September 2003, Ontario universities accepted a double cohort of new students resulting from the Ontario government’s decision to eliminate Grade 13. The admission to university of two categories of students distinguished by their age and high school program raised a number of questions, not only in terms of admission infrastructure but mostly in what concerns the sum of student retention, academic success, and graduation. Factors associated with success and with the maintenance of university studies are numerous: stress, socioeconomic status, parents’ education, intellectual capacities, motivation, social abilities, and social support (Olds & Papalia, 2000). Therefore, the objectives of this study were: (1) to test the hypothesis of a double cohort effect on student academic success during the first year of university, (2) to verify the hypothesis that high school academic history, socioeconomic variables related to stress and perceived stress predict academic success and retention at the end of first year university. In September 2003, 300 first year students answered questionnaires inquiring about their high school program and high school GPA, their socioeconomic characteristics, and their perceived stress. These measures were then used to predict drop out, final GPA, number of credits attempted, passed and failed in June 2004. Results showed that school persistence and first year university academic achievement are mostly predicted by gender, high school GPA, type of financial resources, and number of hours worked at a paid job. Although not significant, we have found a higher proportion of Grade 12 students who dropped out during first year at university, suggesting a possible long-term effect of high school program on academic achievement.     

父母学业参与和高中生消极情绪的关系：亲子关系的中介作用以及父母心理控制的调节作用

目的：本研究旨在探究父母学业参与和学生消极情绪的关系及作用机制。方法：本研究对1569名上海高中生进行问卷调查,学生填写学业参与量表、心理控制量表、亲子关系量表和消极情绪评估量表。结果：（1）父母学业参与和学生的消极情绪负相关;（2）父母学业参与可通过提高亲子关系质量从而减少学生的消极情绪;（3）父母心理控制调节父母学业参与和亲子关系质量、父母学业参与和消极情绪之间的关系。结论：父母积极参与子女学业并减少对子女的心理控制,将更有利于形成良好的亲子关系和减少消极情绪。     

父母教养方式与中学生学业倦怠的关系:自我概念的中介作用

以社会认知理论为基础,使用父母教养方式、自我描述问卷和学业倦怠问卷对1201名中学生进行施测,探讨了中学生父母教养方式、自我概念和学业倦怠之间的关系。研究发现:(1)积极的父母教养方式与学业倦怠及其三维度呈显著负相关,与学业、非学业自我概念呈显著正相关;消极的父母教养方式与学业倦怠呈现显著正相关,与学业、非学业自我概念显著负相关;学业、非学业自我概念与学业倦怠及其三维度都具有显著负相关;(2)学业自我概念与非学业自我概念在积极、消极父母教养方式与学业倦怠关系间起部分中介作用。     

中学生学习成功感量表的初步研究

在访谈、开放式问卷等的基础上,自编了中学生学习成功感量表,并对上海市随机抽取的642名中学生进行了测量。结果表明：该量表的49个项目均有较好的区分度;四个分量表之间的相关表明该量表的建构是正确的;因素分析表明成功感分量表可以分为：与学习本身有关的积极情感、与他人有关的积极情感、满意感和学业自我效能感四个因子;该量表有较高的信度和效度,可以作为评鉴中学生学习成功感的有效工具。     

家长投入对子女成就目标的影响:教养风格的调节作用

本研究通过调查2038名中小学生,考察不同方面的家长投入(学业社会化、基于家庭的投入、基于学校的投入)与子女成就目标的关系,以及教养风格(自主支持/控制)在其中的调节作用。结果表明,学业社会化正向预测三种成就目标,基于家庭的投入正向预测成绩回避目标,基于学校的投入正向预测掌握目标;自主支持的教养风格增强了家长投入与掌握目标的关系,控制的教养风格增强了家长投入与成绩目标的关系;结果存在一定的年龄差异。     

The role of perceived parental socialization practices in school adjustment among Norwegian upper secondary school students

Background Lack of adjustment or school failure is a concern to educators, educational and school psychologists as well as parents, but few studies have focused on school adjustment during late adolescence. Moreover, studies have yet to explore associations between parenting and school adjustment among upper secondary school students. Aim The primary objective of this study is to explore the relative and unique influence of parental support, behavioural control and psychological control (overprotection and autonomy granting) in school adjustment among upper secondary school students. Sample The sample consisted of 564 students (15–18 years of age) in vocational and general educational courses from one upper secondary school in western Norway. Method The study was conducted as a survey. All data were based on adolescent reports, except for absence data, which were provided by the school. Results The results showed that perceived parental practices accounted for moderate, but statistically significant amounts of variance in different aspects of school adjustment. Conclusions The findings indicate that perceived parental socialization practices are only moderately associated with school adjustment among upper secondary school students. This probably reflects the fact that the influence of specific parenting practices declines as children and young adolescents mature into late adolescent students.     

Academic self-concept in high school: predictors and effects on adjustment in higher education

Academic self-concept is considered a relevant psychological construct influencing many educational outcomes directly or indirectly. Therefore, the major focus of the current study is on the predictors and effects of academic self-concept in late adolescence. First, we studied the simultaneous effects of individual, class-average and school-average achievement (i.e., assessed by school grades) on academic self-concept in the final year of high school, thereby replicating and extending previous research on the big-fish-little-pond effect model. Second, the predictive value of high school academic self-concept for academic adjustment and success in the first year of higher education was examined. The sample comprised 536 twelfth grade students (44% boys) recruited from 24 schools (67 classes) that were representative with regard to geographical region and educational network in Flanders. Structural equation modeling showed that, when examining the joint contribution of school- and class-average achievement, only class-average achievement was significantly and negatively associated with academic self-concept. Furthermore, a significant effect of academic self-concept in high school on academic adjustment and success in higher education (in addition to any effects of high school academic achievement) was found. These results highlight the importance of considering academic self-concept in educational research and policy.     

Ethnicity as a social context for the development of African-American adolescents

Does anticipated future racial discrimination undermine African-American adolescents' academic motivation and performance? Do face-to-face experiences with racial discrimination at school undermine African-American adolescents' academic functioning? Does African-American ethnic identity buffer these relations? This paper addresses these questions using two waves of data from a longitudinal study of an economically diverse sample of African-American adolescents living near Washington D.C. The data were collected at the beginning of the 7th grade and after the completion of the 8th grade. As expected, the experiences of day-to-day racial discrimination at school from one's teachers and peers predicted declines in grades, academic ability self-concepts, and academic task values. A strong, positive connection to one's ethnic group (our measure of ethnic identity) reduced the magnitude of the association of racial discrimination experiences with declines in both academic self-concepts and school achievement. Most youth responded to anticipated future discrimination with increased academic motivation.     

The parent connection

This paper addresses the role of parents as contributing members of their children's educational team. The effect of parental involvement on academic success is investigated from primary through secondary school levels. Research has repeatedly demonstrated the connection between family and achievement, and this paper supports the premise that parental involvement plays a critical role in children's academic success.     

自我妨碍与学习投入的关系：学业浮力的中介作用和父母支持的调节作用

以498名高中生为研究对象,通过问卷调查法探讨高中生的自我妨碍与学习投入的关系,并考察学业浮力的中介作用以及父母支持的调节作用。测量工具包括自我妨碍量表、学习投入量表、学业浮力量表和父母自主支持量表。结果表明：（1）自我妨碍对学习投入有显著负向预测作用;（2）学业浮力在自我妨碍和学习投入的关系中起部分中介作用;（3）自我妨碍和学习投入的关系受到父母支持的调节。与低父母支持相比,在高父母支持的学生中,自我妨碍对学习投入有更强的负向预测作用。