The influence of academic achievement in pupils’ academic self-concept construction during the transition to lower secondary education

Authors : Pranvera Kraja

Pages : 83-94

Doi:10.17275/per.14.11.1.2

View : 19 | Download : 9

Publication Date : 2014-12-01

Article Type : Research

Abstract :The purpose of this study was to assess pupils’ academic self-concept before and after the transition to lower secondary education (LSE) and showing changes in this indicator during this period. To assess pupils’ academic self-concept in Albanian language and Math were combined data from three different sources: children's self-beliefs about their capabilities, the grades received in the two main subjects during the two study periods, and the third source was pupils competency assessment by teachers of the respective subjects. As a survey instrument it was used that of Gniewosz et al. (2011). The study aims to answer these research questions: How does pupils’ academic self-concept change when they pass to LSE? Do achievements in Albanian language and Math influence pupils’ self-concept? What role do teachers’ perceptions play in the construction of pupils’ self-concept abilities? Questionnaires of pupils and teachers were filled through self-reporting. Measurements were conducted twice: at the end of fifth grade and at the end of first semester of the sixth grade. Results of the study will be referred to the theoretical framework of reference and differential of information 'sources for student self-concept construction. Tests showed that there was high correlation between verbal and mathematical achievement. Correlations between language grades and Language self-concept were strong and positive, while in Math this relation was low. The relations between grades and self-concept in Language before and after the transition, were more influenced by teachers’ perceptions, while in Math this effect was not significant. Pupils’ self-concept in Math were not affected neither by grades nor by teachers’ perceptions, suggesting that learners may have used other sources of information for their self-concept construction. Sixth grade teachers showed less confidence in the abilities of pupils than teachers of fifth grade.
Keywords : pupils’ academic self-concept, grades, teacher, lower secondary education, school transition