Dissertation

Differences in eleventh-grade students' perceptions of the conditions affecting student aspirations in Mississippi

Robertson, Nichole "B"

2000

Overview

This research study examined the relationship between students' perceptions of the conditions affecting student aspirations in Mississippi public high schools (dependent variable) and each of the two independent variables, student gender and student performance level in the high schools that students attend. The conditions affecting student aspirations were belonging, sense of accomplishment, leadership and responsibility, and school environment. The sample included 357 U.S. History students from 17 public high schools in Mississippi. Data for this study were compiled from responses to survey instrument Students Speak: My Education and My Future. Data were analyzed by five one-way analysis of variance tests, five independent t-tests, and one factorial analysis of variance test. Findings indicate significant differences in perceptions of the condition of belonging of students attending low performing high schools. For the condition of sense of accomplishment, the mean scores of male students were significantly lower than those of female students, but no significant gender-related differences were found on the overall mean scores or on the other condition scales. No significant interactions in performance level effects and gender effects were found. The findings indicate that students in low performing high schools expressed significantly lower perceptions and lower levels of belonging than students in medium and high performing high schools. Males were found to express slightly lower perceptions of and lower levels of all the conditions (belonging, sense of accomplishment, and leadership and responsibility) except school environment.

• Publisher: ProQuest Dissertations & Theses
• Subject: Academic guidance counseling / Educational administration / School administration / School counseling
• ISBN: 0599906642, 9780599906648