ABSTRACT

This research investigates high-achieving, rural middle-school students’ academic attributions and self-efficacy. The study sample (n = 77) included middle-school students attending schools in rural districts in a predominately rural, Midwestern state in the United States (U.S.). There was high participation in the Free and Reduced Lunch (FRL) program in the sample (average of 45.1% among the 8 participating districts). Students attending rural, under-resourced schools in the U.S. are vulnerable with respect to full academic development. We identified academic potential through the administration of a nationally standardized above-level test. Although there were no differences in the study sample’s female and male students’ scores in any of the four subject areas on the above-level test, there were differences for some of the psychosocial variables. A greater percentage of high-achieving males attributed both general school success and math success to ability; a greater percentage of high-achieving female students attributed general school success and math success to effort. Students in rural school districts often lack access to advanced educational opportunities, which may shape their beliefs about academic potential and self-efficacy and impact decisions regarding advanced coursework. Implications for school practitioners to foster the immediate and long-term talent development of high-achieving rural students are discussed.

摘要

本研究调查了成绩优异的农村中学生的学业归因和自我效能感。研究样本 (n = 77) 包括在美国 (US) 以农村为主的中西部州的农村地区学校上学的中学生。样本中免费和减价午餐 (FRL) 计划的参与率很高（8 个参与区的平均参与率为 45.1%）。在美国农村、资源匮乏的学校就读的学生在全面的学术发展方面很脆弱。我们通过管理全国标准化的高级考试来确定学术潜力。尽管研究样本的男女学生在上述水平测试的四个学科领域中的任何一个的分数都没有差异，一些社会心理变量存在差异。更高比例的高成就男性将一般学校的成功和数学的成功归因于能力；更高比例的成绩优异的女学生将一般学校的成功和数学的成功归因于努力。农村学区的学生通常无法获得高级教育机会，这可能会影响他们对学术潜力和自我效能的信念，并影响有关高级课程的决定。讨论了学校从业者培养高成就农村学生的近期和长期人才发展的意义。更高比例的成绩优异的女学生将一般学校的成功和数学的成功归因于努力。农村学区的学生通常无法获得高级教育机会，这可能会影响他们对学术潜力和自我效能的信念，并影响有关高级课程的决定。讨论了学校从业者培养高成就农村学生的近期和长期人才发展的意义。更高比例的成绩优异的女学生将一般学校的成功和数学的成功归因于努力。农村学区的学生通常无法获得高级教育机会，这可能会影响他们对学术潜力和自我效能的信念，并影响有关高级课程的决定。讨论了学校从业者培养高成就农村学生的近期和长期人才发展的意义。