An acute shortage of African American teachers is well recognized. This shortage poses a problem as school systems attempt to employ a representative number of African American teachers commensurate to their diverse student population. The purpose of this study was to examine why 10 African American teachers in Roanoke City selected teaching and remain in the profession and how those reasons were influenced by two motivational variables (academic self-concept of ability and self-efficacy). Factors further affecting this relationship, such as environmental influences (i.e., home, school, and community)and institutional influences (i.e., experiences in the workplace,job satisfaction, and school climate), also were examined. The research design was a single explanatory case study. Yin (1994) contends that "how" and "why" questions (as used in this study) are explanatory in nature and suitable for a case-study design. Two sources of data were used: an initial survey instrument on environmental factors and a second survey on institutional factors. Two separate interviews were conducted with both instruments. Both sources were intended to capture participants' perceptions relevant to their experiences. A purposive sample of 10 local African American teachers was selected. Pattern matching and explanation building were the dominant modes of analysis. A conversational style with narratives written was used to reflect the richness of language used by the participants to describe their experiences. Findings revealed that home environmental experiences and preparation for teaching were positive overall because of practices used by parents and family members to socialize the the participants for success in school. Both direct assistance with school work and verbal encouragement enhanced academic self-concept of ability and self-efficacy for success in school and in teaching. School experiences before and during college were found rewarding and challenging. However, both types of experiences enhanced self-concept of ability and self-efficacy in attaining a teaching career as well as succeeding and remaining in the profession. Overall, rewarding experiences outweighed challenging ones. High expectations, assistance with school work, and teacher role models were typical examples of such experiences. Two major community influences played a significant role in interest and retention in teacher-education programs: (a) involvement in church activities and (b) sponsorship for teacher-education programs through partnerships with business and industry. The former reinforced self-concept in ability, and the latter afforded some participants an opportunity to attend college and enter a teacher-education program. Results on institutional factors and teacher retention were associated with experiences as classroom teachers, interactions with colleagues,relationships with building principals, and perceptions of the school system as a whole. / Ed. D.

Studiens syfte är att undersöka sambandet mellan elevers läs- och skriv svårigheter och självförtroende samt om självbildsuppfattningen påverkar läs- och skrivinlärning samt kamratrelationer. Syftet konkretiseras genom följande frågeställningar: Är självbilden en påverkansfaktor i kamratrelationer, för elever med läs- och skrivsvårigheter? Är läs- och skrivsvårigheter en påverkansfaktor för självförtroendet i skolprestationer, för elever med läs- och skrivsvårigheter? Uppfattar elever med läs- och skrivsvårigheter sin skolsjälvbild mer negativt än elever utan läs- och skrivsvårigheter? Den teoretiska bakgrunden och tidigare forskning visar både samband och olikheter i resultat av liknande studier. Sambanden i frågeställningarna undersöktes med kvantitativ enkätundersökning av 58 respondenter. Undersökningen av eleverna i de specifika klasserna har inte gett något underlag till att det skulle finnas något samband mellan försämrat själförtroende, för elever med läs- och skrivsvårigheter och kamratrelationer. Däremot har undersökningen visat tydliga samband mellan undersökningsgruppens prestationssjälvbild och deras läs- och skrivsvårigheter. Det har även visat sig att det inte går att se någon generell bild av hur läs- och skrivsvårigheter påverkar individens självbild i kamratrelationer, prestationssjälvbild samt skolsjälvbild. / The studies intention is to examine the correlation between students reading and writing disabilities and self-confidence and if the read-and write learning affect the self-image interpretation and peer relationship. The objective concretizes trough the following formulations of questions: Is the self-image interpretation an influence factor in peer – relationships, for students with read and writes disabilities? Is read-and write disabilities an influence factor for self- concept of ability in school performance, for students with read and write disabilities? Does student with read-and write disabilities experience their school self image more negatively than student without read-and write disabilities? The theoretical background and earlier research points to both correlation and differences in results from similar studies. The correlations in the study’s formulations of questions were surveyed by quantitative questionnaire study on 58 respondents. The surveys show no correlation between low self-esteem and peer-relationships for students with read-and write disabilities. The study has shown that there are remarkable correlations between the survey group performance self-image and their read-and write disabilities. The study has also showed that there is no clear general evidence on how the read-and write disabilities affects the individual self-image in peer-relationship, performance self-image and school self-image.

The main aims of this broad exploratory study were (a) to gain insights as to the possible interrelations between Unisa students' expectations for success and a variety of significant variables (such as their academic performance, self-perceptions, confidence, motivation, self-determination, others' expectancies, locus of control and attributions relating to previous performance), and (b) to discover possible differences relating to various groups (i.e. racial and gender groups; 'pass' and 'fail' groups; and 'realistic' and 'unrealistic' groups). The results of 61 hypotheses are compared with a variety of theoretical suggestions and past findings. It was found that, on the whole, the various groups, inter alia, expected to succeed, were confident about the accuracy of their expectations, perceived themselves to work hard, considered themselves to have considerable ability and to be above class average. Despite this rosy outlook many students failed the examinations. Two of the most striking findings of this study were that (a) those who failed overestimated their future performance to a significantly greater extent than those who passed, and (b) overestimations were negatively correlated with achievement. In contrast to theory and numerous research findings, the psychological profiles of 'overoptimists', 'realists', and 'underestimators' revealed that overoptimistic expectancies and self-perceptions appear to be maladaptive in an academic context. Indeed, the findings suggest that accurate or even underoptimistic self-assessments may be more conducive to academic success. It is proposed that overoptimism may reflect ignorance of standards required, of adequate study methods, or may result in inappropriate preparation. In light of the findings, the implications and possible benefits and dangers of overoptimistic expectations and self-perceptions are discussed. The subjects are 715 third year Unisa psychology students, who are more heterogeneous than most other university students as they not only vary considerably in age but also come from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)

The main aims of this broad exploratory study were (a) to gain insights as to the possible interrelations between Unisa students' expectations for success and a variety of significant variables (such as their academic performance, self-perceptions, confidence, motivation, self-determination, others' expectancies, locus of control and attributions relating to previous performance), and (b) to discover possible differences relating to various groups (i.e. racial and gender groups; 'pass' and 'fail' groups; and 'realistic' and 'unrealistic' groups). The results of 61 hypotheses are compared with a variety of theoretical suggestions and past findings. It was found that, on the whole, the various groups, inter alia, expected to succeed, were confident about the accuracy of their expectations, perceived themselves to work hard, considered themselves to have considerable ability and to be above class average. Despite this rosy outlook many students failed the examinations. Two of the most striking findings of this study were that (a) those who failed overestimated their future performance to a significantly greater extent than those who passed, and (b) overestimations were negatively correlated with achievement. In contrast to theory and numerous research findings, the psychological profiles of 'overoptimists', 'realists', and 'underestimators' revealed that overoptimistic expectancies and self-perceptions appear to be maladaptive in an academic context. Indeed, the findings suggest that accurate or even underoptimistic self-assessments may be more conducive to academic success. It is proposed that overoptimism may reflect ignorance of standards required, of adequate study methods, or may result in inappropriate preparation. In light of the findings, the implications and possible benefits and dangers of overoptimistic expectations and self-perceptions are discussed. The subjects are 715 third year Unisa psychology students, who are more heterogeneous than most other university students as they not only vary considerably in age but also come from a variety of cultures and backgrounds. / Psychology / D. Litt. et Phil. (Psychology)