Date Awarded
2008
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)
Department
Education
Advisor
Joyce VanTassel-Baska
Abstract
This exploratory study explored three factors -- self-efficacy, resiliency, and leadership -- that relate to academic success in African American male freshman college students. The study explored how self-efficacy, resiliency, and leadership interrelate, how a pilot group and study group differ in respect to self-efficacy, resiliency, and leadership, and how African American freshman males differ on these factors in respect to key demographic variables.;The study utilized the Student Academic Success Scale (SASS), which was an instrument developed by the researcher in a graduate course. The instrument was administered to 104 participants. Descriptive statistics, correlation coefficients, and a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) were data analysis techniques used to interpret data.;Data revealed that participants perceive themselves rather highly on the SASS and that there were positive correlations among all three variables. Furthermore, a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that freshmen male students perceive themselves higher on the SASS than students from a pilot group of upperclassmen. Lastly, an ANOVA revealed that African American male freshmen who participated in art programs rated themselves significantly higher on self-efficacy and leadership, while students who participated in mentorship or internship programs rated themselves significantly higher on self-efficacy and resiliency.;Implications of this study indicate that there is a need to develop mentorship and internship opportunities in the elementary, middle, and high school settings for African American males. Moreover, future research should look closely at studying this group longitudinally to evaluate perceptions over a period of time. Another implication for research suggests that comparing a group of African American college males at a Historically Black College or University to African American males at a traditionally White institution on similar dimensions.
DOI
https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.25774/w4-2zdx-zz53
Rights
© The Author
Recommended Citation
Thomas, Kianga Rhea, "An exploratory study of factors that relate to academic success among high-achieving African American males" (2008). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. William & Mary. Paper 1539618446.
https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.25774/w4-2zdx-zz53
Included in
African American Studies Commons, Educational Administration and Supervision Commons, Higher Education Commons
