Psychology Commons^™

Parenting Practices To Have Assisted In Academic Success Of Undergraduate Students, Dorothy Michelle Fyfe

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Prior research reflects that parental involvement has a positive effect on students’ academic performance. Limitations in the research include the use of quantitative methods, the reporting by parents, and parent involvement measured through school activities. It is unknown what parenting practices are perceived as helpful from students themselves. Therefore, the purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore the parenting practices perceived by undergraduate students to have assisted in their academic success. This research explored how undergraduate students explain parenting practices perceived to have assisted in their academic success, how they describe the communication with their parents that assisted in …

Academic Motivation Decreases Across Adolescence For Youth With And Without Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Effects Of Motivation On Academic Success, Zoe Smith, Marcus Flax, Stephen P. Becker, Joshua Langberg

Psychology: Faculty Publications and Other Works

This longitudinal study examined growth trajectories of academic motivation in youth with and without attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) across the important developmental transition from middle school to high school, and associations with academic success. Consistent with self-determination theory (SDT) of motivation, trajectories of amotivation, extrinsic motivation, and intrinsic motivation were modeled.

What's Good For The Goose Is Good For The Gander? Implicit Bias And Self-Concept Toward Honors Students, Molly A. Balducci

Honors College Theses

This study looked to evaluate the current research on peer relationships, perceived social competence, and honors status among college students, with the hope of bridging the gap in research on honors college students and friendship. Participants were college-aged students attending a local university who took an online Implicit Bias Test to see if they held any biases toward words relating to the honors label. Participants also rated their social competence as well as their relationship with their peers. Independent samples t-tests were used to examine the differences in honors and non-honors students' perception of honors programs, peer relationships, and social …

The Role Of Mentoring In The Lives Of Underrepresented Youth, Nohely Camacho Morales

Social Justice | Senior Theses

Underrepresented youth (Latino, Black, Pacific Islander, and Native American) face challenges in school enrollment/completion and often lack feelings of belonging in educational and social institutions. One specific group of underrepresented youth who face unique struggles is unaccompanied youth. Mentoring, a non-parental relationship between a young person and someone who supports and guides youth, has been found to result in better well-being and health in adolescents and potentially lead to higher self-worth and better academic performance. In order to fill a gap in the literature examining the effects of mentoring on underrepresented youth and specifically unaccompanied youth, I conducted a mixed-methods …

Measuring Microaggressions In The Advisor Advisee Relationship: Preliminary Scale Development, Samantha Lynn Bumgardaner

MSU Graduate Theses

A number of survey instruments exist to measure microaggressions across various contexts and across numerous historically underrepresented groups. However, no such scale exists to assess microaggressions within the advisor-advisee relationship. The academic advisor-advisee relationship can make—or break—a student’s experience at a university, both personally and academically. Thus, microaggressions in the advisor-advisee relationship could impose numerous negative implications, both psychologically and academically. The goal of the present study aimed to develop a psychometrically sound scale to measure microaggressions in this association. Overall, findings from the present study offer preliminary support of a two-factor measure to assess microaggressions within the advisor-advisee relationship …

Together, Our Voices Will Strengthen The Weaving: Using Autoethnography And Narrative Inquiry To Indigenize Sense Of Belonging In Higher Education, Devon S. Isaacs

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Native American students in higher education are often asked to find a sense of belonging in places and spaces that do not reflect their cultures or worldviews. This can lead to isolation and a feeling of having to choose between themselves and their identities as Indigenous peoples. This contributes to poorer mental health, loss of well-being, and decreased academic success. The purpose of this study was to ask seven Native American participants how they defined sense of belonging from their own worldviews. Participants were also asked about spaces and places in higher education that helped or did not help them …

School Violence And Its Impact On Student Academic Achievement, Kewanis Kennedy

Steeplechase: An ORCA Student Journal

This study explores the occurrence of school violence and its impact on academic success and attendance. This study will encompass K-12 academic institutions in the state of Kentucky during the 2018-2019 academic school year, with an in-depth analysis of data submitted to the Kentucky Department of Education by the 171 participating school districts. The participating schools shared data in the form of disciplinary actions, attendance, graduation rates, academic achievement, and other relevant demographics. The collected data was analyzed to determine if there was a statistically significant difference among attendance rate, graduation rate, math ACT benchmark scores, and English ACT benchmark …

Classroom Social Connection And Academic Success In The Online Classroom During Covid-19, Marena Dib

Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

With the emergence of COVID-19, a shift towards online learning has become necessary. At Brescia University College, mandatory Psychology courses, which have previously only been provided in person, are now only offered online. The purpose of the current study is to characterize previous and current course experiences, and the current classroom learning community of Brescia psychology students as well as investigate how forced online learning impacts their achievement as measured by perceived learning, final grade, and course satisfaction. Participants completed an online survey, which assembled questions from various sources, including the Community of Inquiry Survey. It is hypothesized that students …

Exploring Learner And Classroom Characteristics In The Online Classroom During Covid-19, Emily S. Sluys

Brescia Psychology Undergraduate Honours Theses

Given the novel learning context induced by COVID-19, the current study sought to characterize Brescia students’ reactions to forced online learning for mandatory courses. Importantly, this study aimed to address gaps in existing literature by combining more commonly studied reactions; Learned Helplessness and Mastery Orientation, and a less commonly studied reaction, Psychological Reactance and examine their relationship between multiple indicators of academic success including perceived learning, course satisfaction, and final course grade. Female students in second year mandatory psychology and sociology courses participated in the study by completing two online surveys administered via Qualtrics. The Early Course Survey measured demographics, …

Promoting Success For First-Generation Students Of Color: The Importance Of Academic, Transitional Adjustment, And Mental Health Supports, Sophie W. Schuyler, Jonique R. Childs, Timothy A. Poynton

Journal of College Access

Nearly 1 in 3 college students (30%) are first-generation students of color (FGSOC), possessing the intersectional identity of being both a first-generation college student and a racial minority. FGSOC face increased psychological and social difficulties in college when compared to students in other groups, resulting from cultural differences, lack of academic preparedness, stigma surrounding socioeconomic status, racial discrimination, and marginalization. This article summarizes peer-reviewed literature related to three types of supports that can improve the college experience and promote the academic success of FGSOC: academic supports, transitional adjustment supports, and mental health supports. The reviewed literature is framed by a …

Success Off The Field: Academic Strategies Of High-Gpa College Athletes, Ashlynn Erbe

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the strategies academically successful college student athletes use to do well in their class work, where academic success was defined as a 3.5 GPA for 12 or more credits for the two semesters preceding the study. Data were transcriptions of individual interviews with five male and five female athletes in seven sports at an NCAA Division I university in the western United States. Independent coders analyzed the data and agreed upon themes related to challenges to academic success and strategies to meet those challenges. Findings add to the literature by detailing self-regulatory habits that academically underprepared athletes …

Relationship Of Parent Academic Socialization To Academic Success Among First Generation College Students, Aubrey Pellicano

Cal Poly Humboldt theses and projects

Research shows that First Generation College Students (FGCS) have lower rates of college degree attainment than their continuing generation peers. Many of these students face challenges navigating social, academic, financial, and administrative domains when working toward a post-secondary degree. Academic self-efficacy (ASE) is an important predictor of academic success in college. Research suggests that parents can influence ASE through parent academic socialization (PAS), which includes academic expectations set by the parents (PAE), parent academic advice (PAA), and parental attitudes about education (PEA). The current study sought to examine the influence of PAS on ASE in FGCS and its subsequent effect …

Academic Success And Its Relation To Academic Habits And Motivation, Sam Ebert

Undergraduate Psychology Research Methods Journal

Many factors contribute to academic success. Previous research has produced inconclusive results when identifying which factors play the largest role in predicting academic success. This study focusses on the relationships between academic success, motivation, and academic habits. I hypothesized that college students who report being highly motivated will have greater academic success than those who report being less motivated. I also hypothesized that there would be a strong positive relationship between college students engaging in good academic habits and high academic success. My two other hypotheses included that motivation score would be positively correlated with academic habit scores and that …

Single Parents Level Of Hope To Achieve Graduation From College, Rhoda Maunupau Robertson

Student Research Posters

Despite the growing number of single parents returning to college to gain a better future for their families, 53% of student parents leave college within 6 years without a degree (Beeler, 2016). However, being hopeful enables student parents to focus on success which increase the probability to attain their goals and success (Snyder et al., 1991). The ability to achieve those goals comes from help-seeking, mentoring, and the ability to seek resources (Snyder et al., 1991). The goal of the present study is to examine levels of hope which enhance help-seeking skills to increase academic success within this population. The …

What Do We Know About The Health Of First-Generation College Students? A First Look At Compensatory Health Beliefs And Behavior, Kristel M. Gallagher

Perspectives In Learning

First-generation college students are less likely than continuing-generation students to reach graduation. Many colleges are working to bridge this divide, however little is known about the physical health of first-generation students. As physical health is associated with academic success, it is important to understand the beliefs and behaviors underpinning the physical health of first-generation college students. The present study examined the relationship between a specific type of unhealthy belief, compensatory health beliefs (CHBs), and the health behaviors of college students, with a focus on eating practices. Participants were first- and continuing-generation students attending a liberal arts institution who completed an …

Self-Concept In Children And Adolescents As A Lever For Change In Academic Success For Under-Served Youth, Robert Ray Ogle

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Children and adolescents in under-resourced urban communities simultaneously experience higher rates of major life stressors, including mental health problems, and less access to the services needed to address these concerns. The combination of high need and few resources makes identifying broadly effective, resource-minimal interventions a critical goal. Amongst potential targets for intervention, academic success, particularly graduating from high school, predicts positive life outcomes across a wide range of health factors. To be effective in supporting academic success in under-served communities, an intervention must be universally applicable, inexpensive, and easy to deliver with fidelity. The current study examined the promise of …

On Campus Social Support And Hope As Unique Predictors Of Perceived Ability To Persist In College, Deanna D'Amico, Veronica Fruiht

Psychology | Faculty Scholarship

The psychological construct of hope, characterized by goal-directed thinking rooted in personal agency and the ability to develop pathways to achieve goals, has long been demonstrated to predict academic success. A sample of 994 undergraduates participated in this study to better understand the role of hope and on-campus social support in predicting students’ perceived ability to persist and succeed in college. Results demonstrated that on-campus support, particularly from teachers and professors, significantly predicted academic outcomes and hope. In addition, we found evidence of a support gap in which students from underrepresented ethnic minorities were far more likely to report that …

Be Cool, Stay In School: The Habits, Resources, And Confidence College Students Need To Succeed, Matthew Staheli

All Graduate Theses and Dissertations, Spring 1920 to Summer 2023

Earning a college degree yields many benefits. In addition to an increased income, college degree earners generally have greater job satisfaction, make healthier life choices, are better communicators, and have greater social mobility. Even with all of these benefits, however, some colleges are seeing graduation rates as low as 32%. One of the greatest contributing factors affecting the dropout rate of undergraduate college students is poor academic performance in their courses. In this study, we sought to identify several academic resources, study behaviors, academic self-confidence scores, and demographic information to assess what types of behaviors and resources may lead to …

The Efficacy Of A Goal-Based Study Skills Course For Academically At-Risk, First-Generation, African American, Female Students, Sarah Beth Garrison

Dissertations

The purpose of this research was to identify effective intervention strategies used in a goal-based study skills course for academically at-risk, first-generation, African-American, female students. Based on the theoretical framework from goal, motivation and achievement theories (Covington, 2000; Kuh, 2007; Nicholls, 1984), this study provided an analysis of research regarding the academic success and persistence of at-risk students. An explanatory mixed-method design was employed that consisted of two phases. The first phase of the study used quantitative data to test for difference in GPA and academic status between the control and treatment group. Quantitative data was also used to identify …

The Effects Of Parental Incarceration On The Academic Success Of College Students: The Influence Of Social Support On Internal Motivation, Emily B. Goodwin

Psychology Undergraduate Work

This qualitative phenomenological study observes the lives of individuals who have experienced parental incarceration. Common factors among the accounts of participants were analyzed to determine risks associated with parental incarceration and potential sources of intervention. Previous research indicates physical and psychological risks associated with parental incarceration and mentions academic resilience and social support as effective interventions in overcoming negative effects for children. The researcher conducted interviews with college students who had experienced parental incarceration at some point in their lives. The results of the study indicated that children have the ability to overcome past adversities through resilience and the pursuit …

Re-Examining The Influence Of Non-Cognitive, Person Centered Factors On Academic Success, Alexandra Pantze

MSU Graduate Theses

This project expands upon a previous study examining the effectiveness of non-cognitive variables in predicting cumulative grade point average for a sample of college students from Missouri State University. A total of 291 introductory psychology students and/or recipients of a multicultural leadership scholarship completed a questionnaire during the fall 2013 semester. The questionnaire assessed the following variables: (a) institutional integration, (b) university environment, (c) cultural congruity, (d) dispositional resilience/ hardiness, (e) academic self-efficacy, (f) big five personality factors, and (g) demographic variables- including family education and household income. The current data collection included cumulative GPA at the completion of summer …

Involvement In Extracurricular Activities: Identifying Differences In Perceptions Of School Climate, Andrew Martinez, Crystal Coker, Susan D. Mcmahon, Jonathan Cohen, Amrit Thapa

School of Social Work Faculty Publications

Many youth participate in extracurricular activities, and research has linked activity participation with school engagement and academic success. Social-ecological theory suggests that the social contexts of different types of extracurricular activities may differentially affect student outcomes. Yet, there is scant research examining the relation between various extracurricular activities and student outcomes. The current study seeks to address this gap by exploring how participation in three activities (sports, clubs, and arts), and combinations of these activities are associated with perceptions of school climate, using multilevel modelling. Participants included 15,004 high school students from 28 schools across 11 states in the United …

Hedonia And Eudaimonia: Associations With Academic Success, Wellbeing, And Neuropsychological Functioning, Maria Kryza-Lacombe

Dissertations and Theses

This study examined the relations between happiness and academic success and wellbeing in a diverse, urban college sample by viewing happiness through the lens of hedonia (seeking pleasure and relaxation) and eudaimonia (seeking meaning), and their neuropsychological correlates. Undergraduate students (n=76; 68.4% female; mean age [SD]=21.17 [3.12]) completed self-report measures of hedonia and eudaimonia, and depression, anxiety, and stress. They also completed objective measures of “cool” executive functioning (WAIS-IV Digit Span, Stroop Color-Word test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Task, and a Stop Signal task) and “hot” executive functioning (Iowa Gambling Task, Temporal Discounting Task). Semester GPA was collected from school records. …

The Relationship Between Resilience And Academic Success Among Bermuda Foster Care Adolescents, Zina Denise Zuill

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The primary goal of this study was to explore whether individual resiliency factors measured by the Resilience Scale (RS) influence academic success for Bermudian foster care adolescents, a population previously unstudied in the literature. Academic vulnerability is a concern for foster care adolescents, and more empirical studies need to be conducted to increase understanding of the variables that affect academic success for this population. Resiliency is a conceptual framework based on a positive developmental focus. The purpose of this study was to gain insight into the relationship between resilience and academic success among 51 Bermudian foster care adolescents who attended …

Predictors Of Academic Success Among African American College Students, La Toya Bianca Smith

Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology

African American students are graduating from high school and enrolling in higher educational institutions at greater rates than in previous years (U.S. Department of Education, 2009). Yet, they have not achieved the same level of academic success as their racial counterparts (American Council on Education, 2010; Ross, 2012). Ultimately, this disparity has resulted in only 17.7% of the African American population 25 years of age and older having at least a Bachelor’s degree (U.S. Department of Commerce, 2012). Many researchers have employed comparative study designs to explore this disparity. Additionally, researchers commonly study academic success through the exploration of intrapsychic …

The Race For Honors, Hannah M. Frantz

SURGE

Over graduation weekend, it was pretty common to see people weighed down by massive numbers of honor cords hanging around their necks. This is a mark of respect at Gettysburg College, so students wear them proudly. I had the privilege to attend Spring Honors Day and watch many of my friends receive achievement awards. As we started winding down to the end of the ceremony, something hit me:

The recipients were overwhelmingly white. [excerpt]

Overcoming Writer's Block And Procrastination For Attorneys, Law Students, And Law Professors, Meehan Rasch

Meehan Rasch

Law is a particularly writing-heavy profession. However, lawyers, law students, and law professors often struggle with initiating, sustaining, and completing legal writing projects. Even the most competent legal professionals experience periods in which the written word just does not flow freely. This article provides a guide for legal writers who are seeking to understand and resolve writing blocks, procrastination, and other common writing productivity problems.

Understanding The Cycle Of Procrastination, Meehan Rasch

Meehan Rasch

Procrastination is one of the enduring challenges of human existence, as well as one of the chief problems with which law students struggle. Understanding the cycle of procrastination can help law professors and advisors more constructively address students’ issues in this area—not to mention our own.

The Long Term Effect Of Parental Involvement In A Child's Education: A Ten-Step Approach, Eraina Ross-Aseme

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Parental Involvement in a child's education is very important to the child becoming a productive citizen. Some parents find themselves getting in at the start of their child entering elementary school; parental involvement should begin before the school age years. Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of establishments such as schools, churches and businesses partnering in a child's education. The goal of this project is to empower parents to build stronger support systems with schools, neighborhoods, churches and communities. Its aim is to show parents, school systems and businesses that collaboration in the education arena can be strengthened to achieve a …

Exploring Hispanic Teenage Pregnancy And School Resiliency: A Hermeneutic Phenomenology Study, Olga Estrada

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

Teenage mothers face multiple risk factors that may prevent them from graduating from high school. This study examined the phenomenon of Hispanic teen pregnancy and teen mothers' experiences with emphasis on academic, social , and personal factors to stay in school. The study explored the resiliency of twelve Hispanic teen mothers through a hermeneutic phenomenological approach. Their stories provide an insight into the challenges the young pregnant/mothers encountered during pregnancy and motherhood at home and in school. Their lived experiences also provide a framework for exploring the school, personal, and economic factors that most influenced their ability to remain in …