The Short-Term Predictive Validity of a Standardized Reading Test and of Scales Reflecting Six Dimensions of Academic Self- Concept Relative To Selected High School Achievement Criteria for Four Ethnic Groups

Abstract

For a total sample of 548 eleventh grade students (274 males and 274 females) in a completely integrated high school in a middle-class suburban neighborhood as well as for each of four subsamples from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds (292 Anglos, 28 Asians, 38 blacks, and 190 Latinos), intercorrelations were found among eight predictor variables (sex, a standardized reading test, and six aca demic self-concept measures) and four criterion measures (History grade, English grade, Science/Mathematics grade, and High School grade point average represented by a composite of the three course grades). Stepwise multiple regression analyses were completed for each sample with the High School grade point average serving as a dependent variable and with seven predictor variables (sex being ex cluded). Three major conclusions were reached: (1) With the pos sible exception of Asians, a standardized reading test can be ex pected to be a more valid predictor of academic success than can be an academic self-concept measure. (2) Irrespective of ethnicity two constructs reflecting (a) level of aspiration and (b) academic interest and satisfaction afford promise as valid predictors of school achieve ment. (3) An optimally weighted combination of a cognitive mea sure (a reading test) and one or more affective measures portraying

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Brookover, W.B. , Erickson, E.L. , and Joiner, L.M. Self-concept of ability and school achievement, III: Relationship of setr-concept to achievement in high school. U. S. Office of Education Cooperative Research Report, Project No. 2831. East Lansing: Michigan State University, 1967.

Brookover, W.B. , LePere, J.M. , Hamachek, D.E. , Thomas, S. , and Erickson, E.L. Self-concept of ability and school achievement, II: Improving academic achievement through students' self-concept enhancement. U. S. Office of Education, Cooperative Research Report, Project No. 1636. East Lansing : Michigan State University, 1965 .

Calsyn, R.J. and Kenny, D.A. Self-concept of ability and perceived evaluation of others: Cause or effect of academic achievement? Journal of Educational Psychology , 1977, 69, 136-145.

CTB/McGraw-Hill. Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills: Reading, Expanded Edition, Form S, Level 4. Monterey, CA: Author, 1973.

CTB/McGraw-Hill. Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills: Reading, Technical Bulletin, No. 1. Monterey, Calif : Author, 1974.

Fernandes, L.M. , Michael, W.B. , and Smith, R.A. The factorial validity of three forms of the Dimensions of Self-Concept measure . EDUCATIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT, 1978, 38, 537-545.

Guilford, J.P. Fundamental statistics in psychology and education (4th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill, 1965.

Holly, K.A. , Purl, M.C. , Dawson, J.A. , and Michael, W.B. The relationship of an experimental form of the mathematics self-concept scale to cognitive and noncognitive variables for a sample of seventh-grade pupils in a middle-class southern California community. EDUCATIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT, 1973, 33,505-508.

LaBenne, W.D. and Greene, B.I. Educational implications of self-concept theory. Pacific Palisades, Calif.: Goodyear, 1969 .

10.

Los Angeles Unified School District (Instructional Planning Division, Programs for Gifted). User's Manual: Dimensions of Self-Concept (DOSC. Los Angeles: Author, 1978.

11.

Michael, W.B. and Smith, R.A. The development and preliminary validation of three forms of a self-concept measure emphasizing school-related activities. EDUCATIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT, 1976, 36, 521-528.

12.

Michael, W.B. and Smith, R.A. Dimensions of Self-Concept, Form S, Grades 7-12. Los Angeles : Los Angeles Unified School District, 1976-1977.

13.

Michael, W.B. and Smith, R.A. Dimensions of Self-Concept (DOSC): A self-report inventory of five school-related factors of self-concept. A preliminary manual. Los Angeles : Los Angeles Unified School District, 1977.

14.

Michael, W.B. , Smith, R.A. , and Michael, J.J. Further development and validation of a self-concept measure involving school-related activities. EDUCATIONAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT , 1978, 38, 527-535.

15.

Nie, N.H. , Hull, C.H. , Jenkins, J.G. , Steinbrenner, K. , and Bent, D.H. Statistical package for the social sciences. New York: McGraw-Hill, 1975.

16.

Purkey, W.W. Self concept and school achievement. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall, 1970 .

17.

Shavelson, R.J. , Hubner, J.J. , and Stanton, G.C. Self-concept: Validation of construct interpretations. Review of Educational Research, 1976, 46, 407-441.

18.

Wylie, R.C. The self-concept: A critical survey of pertinent research literature (Rev. ed., vol. 1). Lincoln : University of Nebraska Press, 1974.