Theses and Dissertations - UTB/UTPA

Date of Award

2002

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (EdD)

Department

Educational Leadership

First Advisor

Dr. Ralph Carlson

Second Advisor

Dr. Henry T. Trueba

Third Advisor

Dr. Liang Zeng

Abstract

The purpose of this research was to examine Mexican-American 8th grade students' attributions of success and failure in school-related contexts. The relationship between and among these attributions, socio-cultural variables and academic achievement was also explored and analyzed. Attribution theory formed the theoretical foundation for the study.

The study utilized three instruments as the primary sources of self-reported data: the Texas Assessment of Academic Skills (TAAS ), Student Achievement Responsibility Survey ( SARS ) (Ryckman, 1985), and the Short Acculturation Scale for Hispanic Youth ( SASH-Y ) (Barona & Miller, 1994). Other data including gender and migrant status were obtained from student records.

The sample of 584 students participating in the study was selected using a stratified, proportional, random sampling procedure. The students were selected from twenty-three middle schools representing twelve school districts in the Rio Grande Valley of South Texas.

The results of the study indicated the following: (1) There is a relationship between academic achievement in reading and attributions of success due to task ease; (2) between academic achievement in reading and attributions of failure due to ability; (3) between academic achievement in math and attributions of success due to ability; (4) between academic achievement in math and attributions of failure due to ability; (5) between attributions of success and socio-cultural variables, specifically SES, gender and acculturation level; and (6) between attributions of failure and socio-cultural variables, specifically, SES and acculturation level.

Comments

Copyright 2002 Mary Alice Reyes. All Rights Reserved.

https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/academic-achievement-as-function-attributions/docview/305428827/se-2?accountid=7119

Granting Institution

University of Texas-Pan American

Share

COinS