Previous research has shown that adolescent peer groups play a role in maintaining and exacerbating demographic differences in achievement. However, there is still limited knowledge about the malleable factors that contribute to these achievement disparities. This short-term longitudinal study examined one such malleable factor--namely, perceived…

The authors explored trajectories of perceived discrimination over a 6-year period (five assessments in 6th-11th grade) in relation to academic, behavioral, and psychological adjustment in 8th and 11th grades. They distinguished discrimination from adults versus peers in addition to overt versus covert discrimination from peers. The sample…

The authors explored trajectories of perceived discrimination over a 6-year period (five assessments in 6th-11th grade) in relation to academic, behavioral, and psychological adjustment in 8th and 11th grades. They distinguished discrimination from adults versus peers in addition to overt versus covert discrimination from peers. The sample…

Adolescents' expectations about school and work may be key antecedents of adult attainment and this relationship may vary by specific racial, ethnic, and gender groups. This article examines how educational and occupational expectations change in adolescence and how expectations predict corresponding attainment in adulthood. Participants included…

This study examines the extent of developmental education participation among Oregon high school graduates students who attend community college and the relationship between high school experiences and subsequent developmental education course-taking. An analysis of state and national data from more than 101,000 Oregon public high school graduates…

Last year, Hispanic and African American high school graduates met ACT's College Readiness Benchmarks in English, reading, mathematics, and science at substantially lower rates than did Asian and White graduates. For example, the rate of White graduates who were college ready in English (77%) was twice that of their African American peers (35%).…

The high school transition was examined in an ethnically diverse, urban sample of 1,979 adolescents, followed from 7th to 10th grade (M[subscript age] = 14.6, SD = 0.37 in 7th grade). Twice annually, data were gathered on adolescents' perceptions of school climate, psychological functioning, and academic behaviors. Piecewise growth modeling…

No significant relationship was found between ethnic Fijian 10th graders' scores on tests of Competitiveness, Mastery, Work Orientation, Personal Unconcern, and Self Esteem and educational achievement. It is concluded that factors relating to the meaning of achievement are more important in understanding ethnic group achievement differences in…

This study examined the relationship between extracurricular activities and academic achievement for girls with different ethnic backgrounds in eighth and tenth grade. Participants include 4382 American girls (78% Caucasian, 9% Latina, 7% African American and 6% Asian Pacific Islander). It was expected that in-school academic organized activities…

Examines the longitudinal effects of parent involvement on tenth-grade students' learning and whether the same pattern of influences exists for boys and girls and for students from different ethnic groups. Results suggest that parent involvement has an effect on students' grade point average and that the same influences hold across gender but were…

The relationships between course work taken, educational needs and plans, high school attended, and PLAN test scores of high school sophomores were examined. The PLAN tests are higher-order thinking skills tests that are used in educational planning for individuals and in program and curriculum evaluation. The relationships between ethnicity of…

This study examined the effect of a computer-enhanced problem-based learning (PBL) environment on middle school students' learning, investigating the relationship among students' self-efficacy, attitude toward science, and achievement. As Bandura defined it (1986), self-efficacy refers to the beliefs people have about whether or not they can…

Teacher-pupil interactions among students of different ethnic groups, with particular focus on possible disparities between Mexican Americans and Anglos, were compared. Data were also collected on Blacks and other ethnic group students, but the number of these students proved inadequate for statistical analysis. Classroom observations in rural,…

A research study shows the strong positive relationship between traditional personal values and academic success of students from various disadvantaged backgrounds. Four categories of values were examined: (1) the work ethic, (2) religious commitment, (3) parental support of success in school, and (4) peer group support of success in school. A…

This study examines effects of traditional American values, held by students, their parents, and their friends on the success of students in school and their use of out-of-school time. Students' values in this study refer to the work ethic, importance attached to education, and strength of religiosity. Indicators of parents' values are concerns…