- Collection:
- Atlanta University and Clark Atlanta University Theses and Dissertations
- Title:
- The relationship between self-concept, academic achievement, and racial identification among at-risk African-American adolescent males, 1999
- Creator:
- James, Deborah E.
- Date of Original:
- 1999-07-01
- Subject:
- Degrees, Academic
Dissertations, Academic - Location:
- United States, Georgia, Fulton County, Atlanta, 33.749, -84.38798
- Medium:
- theses
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- application/pdf
- Description:
- The primary focus ofthis research was to evaluate the relationship of positive selfconcept, academic achievement and racial identification among African-American adolescent males who were at-risk for educational and social failure. This study further involved a thorough investigation ofthe plight ofAfrican-American males and examined why they are sometimes labeled as an 'endangered species.� African-American youth who are at-risk are those students who may not complete their high school career by earning a diploma or gain appropriate skills for the twenty-first century. African-American youth at risk also includes those students who fall victim to one or more social barriers which prohibit their success. Research indicates that social barriers which foster at-risk behavior include inadequate education, poverty, school environment, crime, and anti-social behavior, racism and discrimination, unemployment, family structures, drugs, and suicide. More specifically, review ofthe literature revealed that African-American students with positive self-concepts have scored higher on standardized tests and achieve higher grades in school. Research on the relationship between positive self-concepts and academic achievement can assist counselors and educators in problem solving. African-American students who positively identify with their race and culture reach high educational endeavors. It is hypothesized that students who have positive self-concepts will also possess positive racial identification and value academic achievement as evidenced by school records. Survey research was used to conduct this investigation. Forty subjects from various schools were selected to participate in this study. All subjects were African-American adolescent males. Instrumentation employed the use oftwo surveys including the 'Tennessee Self - Concept Scale� and an 'Adolescent Racial Identification Questionnaire.� Additionally, students completed a Demographic Profile. All instruments were completed within forty-five minutes. Student grade point averages in the core curriculum courses were used to measure academic achievement. It is proposed that the findings ofthis study will strengthen that area of research which is needed to promote more successful experiences for this population. As a result, local communities as well as the entire nation can further empower individuals to decrease the number ofAfrican-American males prone to educational and social failure.
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12322/cau.td:1999_james_deborah_e
- Rights Holder:
- Clark Atlanta University
- Holding Institution:
- Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library
- Rights:
-
