%0 Thesis %1 mclelland_study_1983 %A McLelland, Jane Watkins %C Tuscaloosa, AL %D 1983 %K EDUCATION, PSYCHOLOGY %T A study of gender differences in motivation of high-achieving students in a southern private college preparatory school %X This study investigated gender differences in achievement motivation. Variables considered were need for achievement (n Ach); need for affiliation (n Aff); locus of control of reinforcement (Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control–I-E); and students' perceptions of parental behaviors, including perceived child-rearing practices and perceived emotional support from parents. The sample was comprised of 47 students–22 females and 25 males–from Indian Springs School. ISS is a private college preparatory school whose reputation for above-average scholastic achievement is well documented. High-achieving behavior among subjects was assumed based on their maintenance of good academic standing in the school population. The research followed the general investigative model of David C. McClelland and his colleagues (1953) who developed the n Ach concept and projective techniques for measuring it. The original McClelland Need Achievement Test was composed of stimulus cards depicting only boys and men. The test was modified for this study to include like-sex cards for both groups. Variance between groups on the seven variables was tested by MANOVA (multivariate analysis of variance). Relationships among the variables were tested using a Pearson product-moment correlational technique. A significant difference was observed between groups on one variable, n Ach, with males scoring higher. This finding is supported in motivation literature. Results showing no significant differences between groups on n Aff, I-E, and perceived child-rearing practices and parental emotional support, are not supported in the research literature. Three pairs of variables were found to correlate significantly. They were n Ach and father's child-rearing practices; n Ach and father's emotional support; and I-E and mother's emotional support.

@phdthesis{mclelland_study_1983, abstract = {This study investigated gender differences in achievement motivation. Variables considered were need for achievement (n Ach); need for affiliation (n Aff); locus of control of reinforcement (Rotter's Internal-External Locus of Control–I-E); and students' perceptions of parental behaviors, including perceived child-rearing practices and perceived emotional support from parents. The sample was comprised of 47 students–22 females and 25 males–from Indian Springs School. ISS is a private college preparatory school whose reputation for above-average scholastic achievement is well documented. High-achieving behavior among subjects was assumed based on their maintenance of good academic standing in the school population. The research followed the general investigative model of David C. McClelland and his colleagues (1953) who developed the n Ach concept and projective techniques for measuring it. The original McClelland Need Achievement Test was composed of stimulus cards depicting only boys and men. The test was modified for this study to include like-sex cards for both groups. Variance between groups on the seven variables was tested by MANOVA (multivariate analysis of variance). Relationships among the variables were tested using a Pearson product-moment correlational technique. A significant difference was observed between groups on one variable, n Ach, with males scoring higher. This finding is supported in motivation literature. Results showing no significant differences between groups on n Aff, I-E, and perceived child-rearing practices and parental emotional support, are not supported in the research literature. Three pairs of variables were found to correlate significantly. They were n Ach and father's child-rearing practices; n Ach and father's emotional support; and I-E and mother's emotional support.}, added-at = {2018-06-19T15:18:45.000+0200}, address = {Tuscaloosa, AL}, author = {McLelland, Jane Watkins}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2f55869878fca8ea1f1e94c474b72deb4/prophe}, interhash = {26234bd370f533b3498bcaba8cc1d541}, intrahash = {f55869878fca8ea1f1e94c474b72deb4}, keywords = {EDUCATION, PSYCHOLOGY}, school = {The University of Alabama}, shorttitle = {A study of gender differences in motivation of high-achieving students in a southern private college preparatory school}, timestamp = {2018-06-19T15:18:45.000+0200}, title = {A study of gender differences in motivation of high-achieving students in a southern private college preparatory school}, type = {Doctoral {Dissertation}}, year = 1983 }