Thèse numérisée par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal.

Previous research has shown that Need for Cognition (NFC), the individual tendency to engage in and enjoy cognitive endeavors, contributes to academic performance. Most studies on NFC and related constructs have thereby focused on grades to capture tertiary academic success. This study aimed at a more comprehensive approach on NFC’s meaning to success in university. We examined not only performance but also rather affective indicators of success. The current sample consisted of 396 students of different subjects with a mean age of 24 years (139 male). All participants took part in an online survey that assessed NFC together with school performance and further personality variables via self-report. Success in university was comprehensively operationalized including performance, satisfaction with one’s studies, and thoughts about quitting/changing one’s major as indicators. The value of NFC in predicting tertiary academic success was examined with correlation analyses and path analysis. NFC significantly correlated with all success variables with the highest correlation for study satisfaction. Path analysis confirmed the importance of NFC for study satisfaction showing that NFC had a significant direct effect on study satisfaction and via this variable also a significant indirect effect on termination thoughts. This study clearly indicates that NFC broadly contributes to the mastery of academic requirements and that it is worthwhile to intensify research on NFC in the context of tertiary education.

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo principal explicar a posição paradoxal de um colégio público de ensino médio em São Paulo considerado de excelência, a Escola Técnica Federal, e a produção social das disposições que sustentam o sucesso escolar de seus alunos. A Federal possui características institucionais híbridas que se traduzem nas oscilações profissionais e pedagógicas dos próprios professores, tais como: o laxismo pedagógico; um corpo docente altamente qualificado; autonomia relativa na docência; ritos acadêmicos típicos das universidades públicas; ausência de um projeto pedagógico unificador. O vestibulinho para ingresso, principal característica institucional da escola, produz tanto uma seleção rigorosa de um público altamente suscetível à ação pedagógica da instituição como um sentimento de eleição entre os jovens aprovados. Os jovens da Federal herdam de suas famílias um capital cultural inicial que possui alto rendimento escolar, principalmente por estar associado à outra herança: a narrativa mitológica do passado familiar. A hipótese explicativa, construída a partir da teoria de Bourdieu, para o alto investimento escolar estabelece que a propensão para investir na educação escolar varia de acordo com o grau em que a manutenção ou a possibilidade de ascensão social da família depende da escola. Para transpor as barreiras que separam as frações das classes médias das frações das classes dominantes, os alunos manejam um repertório simbólico que inclui a história de sucesso da família, valores ascéticos e a crença no mérito necessário para justificar e impulsionar as conquistas escolares e sociais. Busca-se nesta dissertação, portanto, conciliar duas abordagens sobre o sucesso escolar: de um lado, a explicação a partir de fatores estruturais, tais como a posição social das famílias e a posição da instituição no espaço das escolas de ensino médio de São Paulo e, de outro, a interpretação das motivações e representações dos estudantes a respeito dos estudos e de algumas identidades produzidas em interação no interior do próprio colégio, tais como os rótulos dos nerds e do prodígio. Por fim, esta dissertação mostra como o passado escolar e social dos alunos da Federal delimita o campo de possíveis em relação à escolha das carreiras do ensino superior. Esta pesquisa foi realizada a partir da observação do cotidiano da escola, da aplicação de 257 questionários com os alunos do terceiro ano e da realização de entrevistas em profundidade com 21 estudantes, quatro professores e duas mães de alunos / This thesis has as main purpose to explain the paradoxical position of a public high school in São Paulo, which is reputed of valuable quality, the Escola Técnica Federal, and also the production of the dispositions that support the academic success of its students. The Escola Federal has hybrid institutional characteristics that appear in professional and pedagogical oscillations of the teachers themselves, such as: pedagogical laxity; highly qualified faculty; relative autonomy of teaching; academics rituals typical of public universities; absence of unifying pedagogical project. The admission test, main institutional characteristic of the school, produces both a severe selection of a public strongly sensitive to the educational action of the institution, and a feeling of election among the admitted students. The students of Federal inherit from their families an initial cultural capital that has a high academic income, mainly because it is associated with another heritage: the mythological narrative of family past. The explaining hypothesis for the high academic investment was developed based on Pierre Bourdieus theory and suggests that the tendency to invest in formal education varies according to the degree in which the maintenance or the possibility of social mobility of the family depends on the school. In order to overcome the barriers that set apart fractions of middle classes from fractions of dominant classes, those students handle a symbolic repertoire. This symbolic repertoire includes the history of familys success, ascetic values and belief in personal merit that are necessary to justify and to encourage their social and academic achievements. Therefore, this thesis aims to reconcile two approaches about academic success: in one hand, the explication of academic success based on structural factors, such as the social position of the family and of the institution in the space of high schools of São Paulo; and, in the other hand, the interpretation of the students motivations and representations about their studies, and some of the identities that are produced in the interaction between them within school, such as the label of nerds and prodigy. Finally, this thesis shows how the educational and social background of the Federals students bounds their field of possibilities regarding their choices of college carriers. This research was achieved by the observation of the daily life of the school, the application of 257 questionnaires to students and the conduction of in-depth interviews with 21 students, four with teachers and two with mothers of students.

Esta dissertação tem como objetivo principal explicar a posição paradoxal de um colégio público de ensino médio em São Paulo considerado de excelência, a Escola Técnica Federal, e a produção social das disposições que sustentam o sucesso escolar de seus alunos. A Federal possui características institucionais híbridas que se traduzem nas oscilações profissionais e pedagógicas dos próprios professores, tais como: o laxismo pedagógico; um corpo docente altamente qualificado; autonomia relativa na docência; ritos acadêmicos típicos das universidades públicas; ausência de um projeto pedagógico unificador. O vestibulinho para ingresso, principal característica institucional da escola, produz tanto uma seleção rigorosa de um público altamente suscetível à ação pedagógica da instituição como um sentimento de eleição entre os jovens aprovados. Os jovens da Federal herdam de suas famílias um capital cultural inicial que possui alto rendimento escolar, principalmente por estar associado à outra herança: a narrativa mitológica do passado familiar. A hipótese explicativa, construída a partir da teoria de Bourdieu, para o alto investimento escolar estabelece que a propensão para investir na educação escolar varia de acordo com o grau em que a manutenção ou a possibilidade de ascensão social da família depende da escola. Para transpor as barreiras que separam as frações das classes médias das frações das classes dominantes, os alunos manejam um repertório simbólico que inclui a história de sucesso da família, valores ascéticos e a crença no mérito necessário para justificar e impulsionar as conquistas escolares e sociais. Busca-se nesta dissertação, portanto, conciliar duas abordagens sobre o sucesso escolar: de um lado, a explicação a partir de fatores estruturais, tais como a posição social das famílias e a posição da instituição no espaço das escolas de ensino médio de São Paulo e, de outro, a interpretação das motivações e representações dos estudantes a respeito dos estudos e de algumas identidades produzidas em interação no interior do próprio colégio, tais como os rótulos dos nerds e do prodígio. Por fim, esta dissertação mostra como o passado escolar e social dos alunos da Federal delimita o campo de possíveis em relação à escolha das carreiras do ensino superior. Esta pesquisa foi realizada a partir da observação do cotidiano da escola, da aplicação de 257 questionários com os alunos do terceiro ano e da realização de entrevistas em profundidade com 21 estudantes, quatro professores e duas mães de alunos / This thesis has as main purpose to explain the paradoxical position of a public high school in São Paulo, which is reputed of valuable quality, the Escola Técnica Federal, and also the production of the dispositions that support the academic success of its students. The Escola Federal has hybrid institutional characteristics that appear in professional and pedagogical oscillations of the teachers themselves, such as: pedagogical laxity; highly qualified faculty; relative autonomy of teaching; academics rituals typical of public universities; absence of unifying pedagogical project. The admission test, main institutional characteristic of the school, produces both a severe selection of a public strongly sensitive to the educational action of the institution, and a feeling of election among the admitted students. The students of Federal inherit from their families an initial cultural capital that has a high academic income, mainly because it is associated with another heritage: the mythological narrative of family past. The explaining hypothesis for the high academic investment was developed based on Pierre Bourdieus theory and suggests that the tendency to invest in formal education varies according to the degree in which the maintenance or the possibility of social mobility of the family depends on the school. In order to overcome the barriers that set apart fractions of middle classes from fractions of dominant classes, those students handle a symbolic repertoire. This symbolic repertoire includes the history of familys success, ascetic values and belief in personal merit that are necessary to justify and to encourage their social and academic achievements. Therefore, this thesis aims to reconcile two approaches about academic success: in one hand, the explication of academic success based on structural factors, such as the social position of the family and of the institution in the space of high schools of São Paulo; and, in the other hand, the interpretation of the students motivations and representations about their studies, and some of the identities that are produced in the interaction between them within school, such as the label of nerds and prodigy. Finally, this thesis shows how the educational and social background of the Federals students bounds their field of possibilities regarding their choices of college carriers. This research was achieved by the observation of the daily life of the school, the application of 257 questionnaires to students and the conduction of in-depth interviews with 21 students, four with teachers and two with mothers of students.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between the perceptions of successful African American sophomore students and their adjustment to academic success at predominantly White colleges and universities. Twenty African American sophomore females and twenty African American sophomore males from two predominantly White community colleges and two predominantly White universities participated in the study. Each subject completed a demographic survey and participated in an interview. Results indicated that both the attitudes of African American students toward education and their perceptions of the attitudes of those in the educational system towards African American students played an integral role in the academic success of these students. Conclusions of the study emphasized the need for predominantly White institutions of higher learning to provide support systems that will increase academic success. Nine recommendations were developed for institutions to implement for success for African American students. The review of literature and data presented in this study implies that African American students on predominantly White campuses experience academic success when in a supportive and inclusive environment.

The purpose of this study was to determine teachers’ perceptions of the relationship of the Katy Management of Automated Curriculum (KMAC) system developed by Katy ISD in Katy, Texas, on planning for learning, delivery of instruction and evaluation of student learning in the classroom. KMAC is a customized, proprietary networked technology curriculum management system created for online access to curriculum and the creation and sharing of lesson plans. Data was collected from 635 teachers district-wide through an online survey. This data was used to determine whether there were differences between/among teachers and teacher leaders and between/among elementary, junior high and high school teachers in their perceived impact of the KMAC on planning for learning, delivery of instruction and evaluation of student learning. Regarding planning for learning, teachers were found to have a moderately positive perception of KMAC with teacher leaders being slightly more positive. In addition, statistically significant differences were found between grade levels with elementary teachers more positive than secondary teachers. Regarding delivery of instruction, teacher leaders again perceived a more positive relationship with KMAC than the teacher non-leaders. Statistically significant differences were also found between elementary and junior high, elementary and high school and between junior high and high school teachers, with elementary teachers being the most positive. Teachers were the least positive toward KMAC and the evaluation of student learning. While a statistically significant relationship was found in relationship to the grade level taught and evaluation, this area was admittedly weaker than the other two areas in district development and teachers’ perceptions. While the position of teacher leader seemed to impact the results in all categories, the grade level taught was found to have the greatest statistical impact on the teacher perceptions.

Le contexte familial influence probablement plus le succès scolaire des élèves de pays en voie de développement que ce que certaines recherches indiquaient jusqu’à présent (Nonoyama-Tarumi, 2008). Ce mémoire explore les relations entre le contexte familial et le parcours scolaire d’élèves Béninois dans le cadre d’une évaluation d’implantation et de processus du programme de bourses de la Fondation Sophie Lavigne (FSL). Au total 18 informateurs ont participé à la recherche. Les données ont fait l’objet d’analyses qualitatives. Les résultats montrent que le programme de bourses est mis en œuvre conformément à ce qui était attendu. Ce dernier facilite le parcours scolaire de toutes les participantes et parfois celui de leur fratrie. Par contre, les critères de renouvellement des bourses, en fonction de la réussite scolaire, ont peu d’influence positive sur leur parcours scolaire. Les causes d’échecs scolaires rapportées par les participants sont de deux ordres, (a) une accumulation de difficultés qui entravent l’étude et (b) un obstacle ponctuel important qui empêche la poursuite des études. Les familles interrogées valorisent grandement l’instruction. Dans la mesure de leurs moyens, elles tentent d’offrir les meilleures conditions de réussite scolaire possibles à leurs enfants. L’accès à du soutien scolaire tel des cours de rattrapage est nécessaire pour assurer des conditions d’étude optimales. À la lumière des résultats, la FSL aurait avantage à fournir plus de soutien scolaire aux étudiantes qu’elle accompagne et à revoir les critères de renouvellement de bourses. / One’s family background probably has a stronger influence on a student’s academic success in developing countries than many studies have shown up to now (Nonoyama-Tarumi, 2008). By means of an evaluation of both the implantation and processes of the Sophie Lavigne Foundation (FSL) scholarship program, this thesis deals with the relationships between Benin students’ family background and their academic trajectory. A total of 18 informants participated in the research project. The data was analyzed qualitatively. Generally speaking, the scholarship program has been established as was expected. Families that were interrogated greatly value education. To the very best of their abilities, they try to offer their children the greatest possible conditions for academic success. The scholarship program makes the academic trajectory of all participants easier and sometimes even positively affects their siblings’. However, the criteria for the renewal of the scholarships, which depend on academic success, have few positive effects on the participants’ academic trajectories. The causes for academic failures mentioned by the participants seem to be twofold: (a) an accumulation of difficulties that impair their academic trajectory (b) an important and specific obstacle that prevents a student from continuing her studies. It also appears that having access to academic support—remedial work for instance—is necessary in order to guarantee the best study conditions. The results of this research indicate that the FSL should provide students it accompanies with more academic support and reconsider the criteria for the renewal of the scholarships.

Thèse numérisée par la Division de la gestion de documents et des archives de l'Université de Montréal

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This research investigated the possible correlation between English proficiency and academic success in Internal Auditing 1 of learners registered at the Vaal Triangle Technikon. Acquisition of a Second language was investigated with reference to Additive and Subtractive bilingualism, Basic Interpersonal Communication Skills, and Cognitive Academic Language Proficiency. Factors that influence the acquisition of a L2 were also discussed. Factors that influence learning through a Second language, problems experienced by learners learning through a Second language and the coping mechanisms they use were investigated. The specific language situation in South African education was explained starting with a short historical background of English in South African schools. General problems experienced at schools, language problems experienced at schools, the language proficiency of teachers and how they cope with the language problems were discussed. Language problems experienced by the learners and its effect on higher education were also investigated. A questionnaire was used to gather information regarding respondents' school history, First language, experiences with English as a subject at school, experiences of English as language of instruction, and their views on Internal Auditing 1 as a subject. Respondents' English proficiency was determined through three instruments, namely Grade 12 English Second language results, an English proficiency test and an English writing performance test. There is a discrepancy between tile respondents' own perception of their English proficiency and their English proficiency as reflected by their Grade 12 English Second language results, the proficiency test and the writing performance test. While respondents felt that their English proficiency is average or above average, the tests indicated that their English proficiency is very low. Despite the respondents' very tow levels of English proficiency they reported that they did not find the English used in different situations relating to Internal Auditing 1 difficult and no significant correlation could be determined between their English proficiency levels and their academic success in Internal Auditing 1. / Psychology of Education / M. Ed. (Psychology of Education)