Doctoral Dissertations

Dan Goodkind

Date of Award

5-1997

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Psychology

Major Professor

Robert Wahler

Committee Members

Anne McIntyre, Steve McCallum, Robert Levey

Abstract

This dissertation summarizes the results of a three-part research project designed to identify personality and attitudinal characteristics of low-achieving and underachieving high school students. In an initial, exploratory study, a battery of self-report measures, including the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and the School Attitude Measure, were administered to the entering ninth grade class at an inner-city high school. A correlation matrix was created using all data from students who completed valid MMPI protocols, and student grade point average (GPA). Results showed the School Attitude Measure Sense of Control over Performance scale (CONTR) to be positively correlated with GPA, and the MMPI Paranoia scale (Pa) and MMPI Psychopathic Deviate scale (Pd) to be negatively correlated with GPA. In a secondary study, items identical or similar to items from each of these three scales were combined in a composite scale; this composite scale evidenced internal consistency when administered to a sample of adults. Factor analytic techniques demonstrated a strong relationship between a subset of items, which were then administered separately with reliable results. A relationship between the personality factor(s) common to CONTR, Pa, and Pd and achievement received further empirical support in the secondary study when the item subset was shown to differentiate between a group of prisoners (low achievers) and college students (high achievers). Based upon content analysis and background research, the new scale was named the Negativism Scale. Negativism is defined here as an attitudinal state characterized by distrust, pessimism, resentment, and feelings of futility. In the final study, it was hypothesized that scores on the Negativism Scale would account for a significant portion of the variation of GPA in a sample of high school students, over and above what could be accounted for by achievement test scores. Results supported this hypothesis, indicating that negativism is associated with academic underachievement in adolescents. Further analysis showed that the association between Negativism Scale scores and academic underachievement became increasingly significant as achievement test scores decreased. Negativism is discussed in context with other personality and attitudinal factors that have been empirically associated with academic underachievement.

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