Date of Conferral

2019

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Steven Little

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate former high school students' resilience following the administration of the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) exam based on the comparison of male and female students who passed the STAAR exam the first time and those who failed it at least 2 times. This study fills a gap in the literature by offering additional data and increased knowledge about the relationship of resiliency to school performance. A total of 133 adults aged 18-29 years who had been enrolled in 3 high schools in a large metropolitan area in Texas were referred by the Texas Education Agency to complete the Resilience Scale online survey. A cross-sectional survey based on Resiliency Scale scores was used to quantify the degree of individual resilience, considered as a positive personality characteristic that enhances individual adaptations. The data were analyzed using 2-way (2 X 2) ANOVA with 3 dependent variables (Resiliency Scale [overall resiliency, personal competency, and acceptance of life and self]), and STAAR passing grouping and gender (male or female) serving as the independent variables. Results indicated that there were no differences between males and females or between students who passed the STAAR the first time and those who failed the STAAR at least 2 times on the dependent variables of reliance, competency, and acceptance of life and self. Positive social change may result from encouraging the teaching of other coping skills and interventions for those who experience failure on high-stakes tests.

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