Academic achievement--Psychological aspects

The purpose of this study was to investigate possible relationships between selfdirected
learning and emotional intelligence in healthcare managers. There are
commonalities between these constructs; however, they had not previously been
examined side by side. The interrelationships of these variables with age, gender, and
tenure with the health system in a supervisory role were examined. A post hoc hypothesis
exploring the relationships of self-directed learning, emotional intelligence, problem
solving ability needed on the job and the amount of change facing the manager in the
workplace was formulated after the data were collected. Conclusions focus on the strong interrelationship between self-directed learning
and emotional intelligence. This research failed to establish a link between performance,
self-directed learning and emotional intelligence, perhaps attributable to unanticipated
aspects of the performance review process of this health system. The study revealed
significant relationships between self-directed learning, degree of change in the job and
level of problem solving ability needed to perform the job. This topic merits further
investigation in circumstances in which the performance assessment system is more
likely to provide accurate, precise knowledge of the level of performance.

The purpose of this study is to explore environmental and personal factors that may influence college undergraduates' decisions to pursue a major in information technology. These factors include self-efficacy, outcome expectations, personality traits, interest in computers, attitudes, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and perceived IT job availability. The paper develops and tests a theoretical model based on social cognitive theory and the theory of planned behavior, and also incorporates the five factor model of personality. The intent of this study is to extend the social cognitive theory and theory of planned behavior literatures by expanding their application to IT career choice issues and by including personality traits as additional factors. The latter addition also indicates a unique application of the five factor personality model, as it is rarely used in concert with self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and broad environmental factors such as job market demands. A multi-section survey was administered to college undergraduates at four large universities in the southeastern United States. Analysis of the data results showed that college undergraduates with positive attitudes towards the IT major and high perceived behavioral control regarding the IT major had a greater intention of pursuing IT. The study also found positive links between 1) computer self-efficacy and self-evaluating outcome expectations regarding an IT career, 2) computer self-efficacy and perceived behavioral control, and 3) self-evaluating outcome expectations and attitudes towards the IT major. In addition, personality traits moderated a number of model relationships. Finally, it was found that males were significantly more likely to choose IT than females and scored higher on computer self-efficacy, self-evaluating outcome expectations, attitudes towards the IT major, interest in computers, and perceived behavioral control. The results and contributions of the study are discussed and recommendations are made for future research.

The purpose of this study was to identify what climate indicators (attitudinal, support provision, student interaction) found in allied health sciences classroom and clinical settings at a northwest community college contribute to the success of students with psychological disabilities. Three climate assessments and a series of interviews revealed crucial information regarding academic support necessary to assist students with psychological disabilities within the allied health sciences. Utilizing mixed methodologies, the researcher collected and analyzed data during the Fall 2005 academic quarter from 177 climate assessments and facilitated 33 interviews, five student focus groups, and five follow-up interviews with students with psychological disabilities. The study revealed allied health sciences faculty and staff who implement universal design principles, take time to meet with students, build trusting relationships, and work as allies may dramatically influence a student's perception of their academic potential therefore, influencing academic success. The research also indicated allied health sciences programs require additional professional development opportunities for faculty and staff to enhance the climate for students with psychological disabilities. Positive attitudinal indicators, increased support provisions, and frequent student interactions between faculty, staff, and students were found to be key indicators for student academic success. Recommendations are provided for faculty and staff to support the success of students with psychological disabilities.

This study examines whether there are any significant differences between accounting students enrolled in Internet-based courses and accounting students attending campus-based courses in terms of self-efficacy, academic goal, anxiety, gender, and self-assessment of performance. The study is motivated by the many calls for research to apply social cognitive theory to determine factors of motivation and consequently success of accounting students in an online education environment. Social cognitive theory (Bandura, 1986) is used to develop the hypotheses tested in the current study. Three groups of hypotheses were developed. The first group of hypotheses tests the relationships among academic self-efficacy, computer self-efficacy, Internet self-efficacy, and academic goal. The second group of hypotheses tests the relationships among academic self-efficacy, computer self-efficacy, Internet self-efficacy, computer anxiety, Internet anxiety, gender and instruction mode. The third group of hypotheses tests the relationships among academic self-efficacy, academic goal, computer self-efficacy, Internet self-efficacy, computer anxiety, Internet anxiety, gender, instruction mode and self-assessment of performance. The study's results support the hypothesis that Internet self-efficacy is a significant predictor of whether accounting students will enroll in campus-based courses or Internet-based courses when they have the choice of instruction mode. The results also indicate that gender is a significant predictor of instruction mode. Moreover, the results indicate that academic self-efficacy is a significant predictor of accounting students' academic goals. Finally, the results indicate that computer self-efficacy, Internet self-efficacy, academic goal, academic self-efficacy, computer anxiety, and Internet anxiety are significant predictors of accounting students' self-assessment of performance.