Dissertations / Theses on the topic 'Academic achievement Australia'

The purpose of this research was to investigate relations between students' academic motivation, cognition, and achievement. In particular, substantial issues are investigated involving the interaction of students' academic motivation and cognition, and specifies how selected motivational and cognitive variables may influence student academic achievement. In order to do this, this study develops a causal model of student achievement which, using goal theory as a framework, incorporates both motivational and cognitive variables to account for students' academic achivement. In total, the results suggest that students' academic achievement may be both conceptualised, and operationalised, as the product of interrelations between key facilitating, motivational, and cognitive variables. Despite some limitations, the study suggests several positive directions for future research. These include, in particular, further investigation of the social goals identified, how these goals relate to students' academic cognition, and how selected social goals and strategies together influence students' academic achievement. There is also further scope to investigate the role of particular facilitating variables in 'driving' students' academic motivation and cognition. Thus, the present research provides an empirical basis from which future, complementary, research may be undertaken
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Although minority status has been associated with low academic achievement, the “high Asian achieving syndrome" remains as one of the unresolved sociological puzzles. Consistent evidence suggests that regardless of the family status, children from the Asian migrant families, settled in the industrialised countries, tend to perform academically better than their counterparts from the dominant group. This disparity is attributed to a number of factors, which taken separately, do not address this complex issue. In Australia little research has been done to compare the home environment and school experiences of children coming from Chinese-Australian and Anglo-Australian families even though the number of children from the Southeast Asian region has steadily increased. This thesis investigates the influence of home and school on the academic performance of high school students coming from Chinese-Australian and Anglo-Australian families who resided in a predominantly middle class suburb and their children attended one particular state school in Perth, Western Australia. By studying children in their homes and classrooms I have attempted in this ethnographic study to construct some theoretically coherent explanations to understand the disparity in academic performance of Chinese-Australian and Anglo-Australian high school students. In order to capture what teachers, parents, and children say and do as a product of how they interpret the complexity of their world this study explores how macro and micro processes are linked to children's academic performance. As this study aims to understand social events from each individual's point of view it assumes that human behaviour is the result of indispensable and continuous interactions between persons and the situations they encounter. The findings of this study, with no claim to generalise beyond these families, suggest that the reason why Chinese-Australian and Anglo-Australian children have different educational outcomes is that these families socialise their children differently. From this study emerge two different models: and academic oriented Chinese-Australian model and a sports oriented Anglo-Australian model. At the start of high school there was no marked difference in ability and performance based on ethnicity. By the time they completed lower secondary school all Chinese-Australian students had improved in English and enrolled in a normal stream in English. Except for one student, they had selected TEE subjects with a university education as their main goal. At this stage, Anglo-Australians, with the exception of two students (who had selected TEE subjects), had decided to study either a mixture of TEE and TAFE subjects or easier TEE subjects. At the end of Year 12 all Chinese-Australian, except for one, had qualified to study at university. From Anglo-Australian group, only two students had qualified to study at university. This pattern of performance is consistent with the high Asian achieving syndrome and lack lustre performance of Anglo-Australian students. However, this study serves some sober reminder about the narrow focus by Chinese-Australians and lack of effort by Anglo-Australian students.

This study investigates some of the determinates of academic success and failure (and dropout) from first year university level Business units at two private business colleges in Perth, Western Australia. Private business colleges are convenient vehicles for international and Western Australian students who do not possess adequate academic assessments for direct entry into university, and for students who might benefit from an enhanced pastoral support system, in the transition from secondary education to tertiary education. The study is important to private providers and to universities who are trying to help students succeed at university. The study utilises a model of two dependent variables (achievement at first attempt and achievement at second attempt); five independent variables (motivation to achieve, outside work commitments, performance to expectations, family problems, and attendance); and three situation variables (age, gender and whether English is the first language of the student). The variables in the model were identified from various studies in the literature, as likely to be most strongly related to academic success or failure. The model suggests a number of bivariate relationships between the dependent variables andthe independent variables and between the dependent variables and the situation variables. The model also suggests a number of joint relationships between the dependent, independent and situation variables. The dependent variables were measured for eight first year units of study which are generic to Bachelor Degree programmes at most universities for Business or Commerce; Accounting, Economics, Finance, Information Systems, Legal Framework, Management, Marketing and Statistics. The sample consists of 195 students from private provider A and 92 students from private provider B in Perth, Western Australia (a total of 287 students). Data were collected by means of a questionnaire which was distributed to students in both private colleges in mid-semester 1996, and which students completed on a voluntary basis. Each of the independent variables were measured from student self-report data and the private colleges provided the individual student results in each of the eight Business subjects to use as measures of the dependent variables. Analysis took the form of cross-tabulations, zero-order correlations and multiple regression to test the relationships between the dependent and independent variables, as suggested by the model. The computer package SPSS (Statistical Package for the Social Sciences) was used for the analysis. The conclusions relating to the zero-order correlations are presented in two parts: those relating Achievement at the first attempt and Achievement at the second attempt (as dependent variables) with the five independent variables and those relating the dependent variables with the three situation variables. (i) The five independent variables have small or no correlations with the two dependent variables. (ii) The three situation variables have small or no correlations with the two dependent variables. In each case, the amount of explained variance in the dependent variable was 7% or less and hence the relationships are of no practical significance for any of the eight Business subjects, for students or private providers. The conclusions relating to the multiple regression analysis are presented in three parts: those relating the dependent variables with the independent variables, those relating the dependent variables with the situation variables, and those relating the dependent variables with the independent and situation variables together. (iii) The five independent variables together account for less than 9% variance in the dependent variables. (iv) The three situation variables together account for less than 10% of variance in the dependent variables. (v) The five independent variables and the three situation variables together account for less than 15% of variance in the dependent variables. These relationships are so small that they are of no practical significance for any of the eight Business subjects, for students or private providers. While there do not appear to be any direct implications for private providers or students, flowing from this study, there are direct implications for further research. In particular, a better model needs to be developed that uses variables that can explain more of the variance in achievement at the first and second attempts. This may mean that different and better measures of the independent variables need to be made and that new independent variables need to be uncovered, perhaps, by interviewing students at private providers.

Doctor of Philosophy
Research has shown that the school-based experiences of same-sex attracted (SSA) young people are frequently less than ideal, often fraught with verbal and physical harassment and social isolation from peers. School-based victimisation of SSA students has been correlated with their negative mental health outcomes, drug and alcohol use, decreased academic outcomes and lowered tertiary aspirations. These outcomes raise issues related to duty of care for educators, including the general responsibility of schools to create safe, equitable learning environments for all of their students. In order to better meet the needs of SSA students in Australia’s secondary schools, this nationwide study examined the current school climate toward same-sex attraction as described by SSA young people aged 14-19 through their reported experiences and perceptions of environmental stresses and supports, using Margaret Spencer’s PVEST model as the theoretical framework. A web-based survey instrument, advertised through both mainstream and lesbian/gay/bisexual-orientated youth sources, was used to sample Australian SSA students (N = 282). The relationships between SSA students’ perceptions of their school climate (including the treatment of SSA students and topics), their sense of connection to their school community, and their reported academic self-concept and motivation toward learning were investigated using bivariate and multivariate techniques, including structural equation modelling. In-depth interview sessions were conducted with six SSA young people in order to further examine these findings. Results indicated that SSA students’ perceptions of their school climate were directly related to their sense of safety within the school environment, their social connection to their peers and teachers, and their feelings of connectedness to the school environment in general. SSA students’ connection to their teachers and their school environment had the strongest total impact on their academic self-concept and motivation to learn. Of key import was the clear indirect impact of SSA students’ perceptions of their school climate on both of these important academic outcomes, through their connection to both their school community and general school environment. These findings allow for the generation of informed recommendations for school policy and practice with the academic outcomes of Australia’s SSA students in mind.

This thesis describes a research study that investigated the relationships between school level environment and student outcomes. The study involved 620 teachers and 4645 students from 57 Australian secondary schools in all states and territories. Student outcome measures included mathematics achievement, attitudes and beliefs toward mathematics and were collected as part of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study. Teachers perceptions of their school environment were measured using the School Level Environment Questionnaire and included variables such as student support, affiliation, professional interest, mission consensus, empowerment, innovation, resource adequacy and work pressure. Previous research has shown that factors at the school level, like environment, influence education at the classroom level and to further investigate this, data regarding the instructional practices of teachers was included in the analysis. The unique methodology used to investigate influences on student mathematics achievement is also described in this thesis. A two-step approach to modelling consisted of the analysis of two conceptually distinct models. The first was an analysis of the measurement model, which specifies the relationships between the observed variables and the latent variables. The second involved a structural equation model, which specifies the relationships among the latent variables as posited by theory and previous research. In addition, a multilevel analysis was included to further partition the variance in student outcomes between the student level, the classroom level and the school level. The results of these analysis linked particular variables of interest to improved student outcomes.
For example, teachers who felt supported and empowered were more likely to employ student-centred instructional practices and that work pressure and resource adequacy influenced the instructional approaches in the classrooms. The success attribution of students determined which method of instruction promoted positive outcomes. Furthermore, these results indicate relationships between student outcomes, attitudes and achievement, and the relationships between attitude and achievement were recursive with influences from student background variables. The multilevel analysis demonstrated the importance of the influence of factors at the classroom level in influencing student outcomes and highlighted factors at the school level that explained differences in achievement. The significance of this study is in the provision of evidence that demonstrates the effects on student outcomes and not only supports, but significantly adds to previous research. This thesis provides practical implications for teaching and for school policy that can be implemented to promote positive student outcomes. The thesis also provides a rationale for further research that would involve an investigation of the effects of change as suggested from the results of these analysis reported from this study.

This mixed methods study examined the relationship between academic achievement and academic wellbeing for students with and without disabilities, and the effect of the provision of assessment adjustments on achievement and academic wellbeing for students with disabilities, in Australian mainstream secondary schooling. The study is framed through the biopsychosocial model of disability and social-cognitive theory, emphasising the interactional nature of disability with personal and environmental factors. Although correlational studies examining relationships between achievement and academic wellbeing have been undertaken elsewhere, this study provides evidence about the nature of these relationships for students in Australia. Further, a qualitative study was undertaken to provide new insights into how academic achievement and wellbeing are related for students with disabilities in inclusive education settings. In these settings, adjustments to enable students to demonstrate their achievement are expected in law and policy. A two-strand parallel mixed methods design was used with data collected from two independent groups of participants. In Strand 1 of the study, a correlational study was conducted with 42 students with disabilities and 80 students without disabilities in classrooms in mainstream schools in Australia. Students in the middle years of schooling (Years 7-10) are particularly at risk of not completing school. The students completed the Academic Wellbeing Questionnaire comprised of three research scales: (a) the Self Description Questionnaire II (SDQ-II); (b) the Intellectual Achievement Responsibility Scale (IAR); and (c) the subscale of School Satisfaction from The Multidimensional Student’s Life Satisfaction Scale (MSLSS; Huebner, 1994). Information recorded by schools for the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) was used to identify the level of implemented adjustments in the classroom for students with disabilities. Student achievement data in English and Mathematics based on classroom assessments were provided by schools. Strand 2 of the study consisted of two segments, individual qualitative case studies and cross-case analysis with four case study students. These students completed structured and semi-structured surveys from the Adjustments in Classroom Assessment Project (ACAP) study as well as the Academic Wellbeing Questionnaire. Classroom assessment tasks, adjustments and student assessment responses were collected for the case study students. The first segment of Strand 2 of the study explored how teachers adjusted teacher-designed classroom assessment tasks for four case study students with regard to impairments in access skills and target skills that were assessed by a task. The tasks were summative assessment tasks intended to contribute to reporting to parents but also to have a formative assessment role to contribute to improving student learning. The perceptions of the students, parents, and teachers were explored as to how the provided adjustments related to student outcomes in focus subject areas. The provided assessment adjustments enabled the case study students to demonstrate their knowledge, although not all students were satisfied with their outcomes. The second segment of Strand 2 of the study investigated the academic achievement of case study students in relation to their academic wellbeing under adjusted assessment conditions. The synthesised findings of this study indicated that students with disabilities in inclusive education in mainstream schools are not necessarily low achievers but can reach a level of achievement in some or even all subject areas similar to students without disabilities. The perception of students with and without disabilities about academic abilities, especially in mathematics, was related to their achievement level. Students with and without disabilities had a similar thinking style about academic responsibility. This meant that they were more likely to take internal responsibility for academic success than failure. Findings indicated that students both with and without disabilities were predominantly satisfied with school but the level of school satisfaction of students with disabilities related to their academic achievement, especially in mathematics. The provision of classroom assessment adjustments bridged the gap between the academic achievement and academic wellbeing of students with disabilities to be comparable to their peers without disabilities, especially in mathematics. Overall, this research sheds light on how access to classroom assessment adjustments enables students with disabilities to undertake assessment tasks on the same basis as students without disabilities, which may, in turn, improve their academic achievement outcomes and academic wellbeing.

This thesis describes a research study that investigated the relationships between school level environment and student outcomes. The study involved 620 teachers and 4645 students from 57 Australian secondary schools in all states and territories. Student outcome measures included mathematics achievement, attitudes and beliefs toward mathematics and were collected as part of the Third International Mathematics and Science Study. Teachers perceptions of their school environment were measured using the School Level Environment Questionnaire and included variables such as student support, affiliation, professional interest, mission consensus, empowerment, innovation, resource adequacy and work pressure. Previous research has shown that factors at the school level, like environment, influence education at the classroom level and to further investigate this, data regarding the instructional practices of teachers was included in the analysis. The unique methodology used to investigate influences on student mathematics achievement is also described in this thesis. A two-step approach to modelling consisted of the analysis of two conceptually distinct models. The first was an analysis of the measurement model, which specifies the relationships between the observed variables and the latent variables. The second involved a structural equation model, which specifies the relationships among the latent variables as posited by theory and previous research. In addition, a multilevel analysis was included to further partition the variance in student outcomes between the student level, the classroom level and the school level. The results of these analysis linked particular variables of interest to improved student outcomes.For example, teachers who felt supported and empowered were more likely to employ student-centred instructional practices and that work pressure and resource adequacy influenced the instructional approaches in the classrooms. The success attribution of students determined which method of instruction promoted positive outcomes. Furthermore, these results indicate relationships between student outcomes, attitudes and achievement, and the relationships between attitude and achievement were recursive with influences from student background variables. The multilevel analysis demonstrated the importance of the influence of factors at the classroom level in influencing student outcomes and highlighted factors at the school level that explained differences in achievement. The significance of this study is in the provision of evidence that demonstrates the effects on student outcomes and not only supports, but significantly adds to previous research. This thesis provides practical implications for teaching and for school policy that can be implemented to promote positive student outcomes. The thesis also provides a rationale for further research that would involve an investigation of the effects of change as suggested from the results of these analysis reported from this study.

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the educational outcomes of Lebanese-background students in high schools in South-western Sydney, and to investigate some of the factors contributing to their pattern of achievement. The main thrust of this study is to empirically examine in detail two factors which are strong contributors to school achievement. The first is the motivational goals of these students. The second is the Language proficiency of Lebanese-background students in their first language (Arabic) and their second lanaguage (English). The study involves quantitative analyses of two sets of questionnaires administered to all the Year 9 students in three South-western metropolitan Sydney high schools. The Year 10 School Certificate results of this same group of students was then used to measure their level of achievement. Four groups were established for comparison: the non-Lebanese-, English-, Chinese- and Vietnamese- background groups. This study is contextualized within a discussion of some of the family factors which contribute to the achievement of migrant children in schools. Of particular relevance to Lebanese-background students are the socio-economic and educational background of parents, and the historical and social context of the Lebanese in Australia. The thesis concludes by putting forth some recommendations which involve the collaborative efforts of the home, the school and the community, suggesting that part of the solution lies in this collaborative effort. Boundaries can be crossed and stereotypes changed only through a concerted effort by the three sides
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Bibliography: leaves [245]-268
xiv, 268 leaves ; 30 cm.
Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library.
Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, 1993

This item is only available electronically.
Academic achievement attained by adolescents is important for future career success as well as personal and social growth. Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) has the potential to adversely affect both academic outcomes and personal development. This thesis investigated the association between MDD and academic achievement in Australian adolescents. The thesis analysed de-identified data describing 13 to 15 year old’s, who participated in the second Australian Child and Adolescent Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing (n=1077), undertaken in 2013 to 2015. Academic achievement was assessed using linked National Assessment Program Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) scores of the students, and MDD was assessed using parent reports from the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children version IV (DISC-IV). It was hypothesised that adolescents with MDD would have lower levels of academic achievement, and a higher percentage of days absent from school. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression were conducted to assess the strength of the association between MDD and NAPLAN scores, and to identify if the association was modified by school absence. Although limited by a small number of participants with MDD, there was some evidence to support these hypotheses. The results suggested that adolescents aged 13 to 15 years with MDD may be more susceptible to lower academic outcomes, and higher school absence, as compared to their peers. The results contribute to the awareness and understanding of the association between MDD and academic achievement at a national scale.
Thesis (B.PsychSc(Hons)) -- University of Adelaide, School of Psychology, 2021

The aims of this study were to gain a more highly defined understanding of academic achievement by examining possible demographic differences in students' achievement-related cognitions; and provide information that may allow future researchers to design programs aimed at improving students' academic achievement within specified demographic strata. More specifically, the aims of the present study were two-fold, (a) to investigate sociodemographic differences in students' achievement-related cognitions and (b) to examine the role of identity status in students' achievement-related cognitions. The participants were 325 students (122 males and 203 females) recruited from five large secondary schools from across Metropolitan Melbourne. The results showed that most of the significant differences in students' achievement-related cognitions were grade and identity status related. This suggests that much of the variability in achievement-related cognitions measured in this study may be environmental (i.e., grade differences) and/ or developmental (i.e., age differences and maturation) in nature. These results are important in order to identify at-risk groups (i.e., at-risk of achievement problems) and to better structure learning environments and support systems for these students, in an effort to enhance or facilitate their achievement prospects. Continued research in the area will help provide evidence-based practices in Australian schools.