Studies have shown that self-efficacy, aspirational, and other psychosocial influences account for considerable variance in academic achievement through a range of mediational pathways, although no research to date has tested the mediational relationships identified. The present research investigated the structural relations among self-efficacy, academic aspirations, and delinquency, on the academic achievement of 935 students aged 11-18 years from ten schools in two Australian cities. The Children's Self-Efficacy Scale, Adapted Self-Report Delinquency Scale (Revised), and Children's Academic Aspirations Scale were administered to participants prior to academic achievement being assessed using mid-year school grades. Structural equation modeling was employed to test three alternative models for the relationships from academic, social, and self-regulatory efficacy on academic achievement. A partial mediation model showed the best overall fit to the data. Academic and self-regulatory efficacy had an indirect negative effect through delinquency and a direct positive effect on academic achievement. Academic and social self-efficacy had positive and negative relationships, respectively, with academic aspiration and academic achievement; however, the relationship between academic aspiration and academic achievement was not significant in the final model.

According to Farrell and Lunt (1995), educational psychology is in danger of becoming a second class profession in applied psychology. Controversies about the role and training of educational psychologists need urgent attention for the profession to prosper. A clear view of roles that educational psychologists are expected to fill and of roles that are best filled by educational psychologists will improve the content and nature of training programs. Graduate training programs are likely to be where change is either resisted or nurtured. Six issues facing educational psychologists in Australia and ways that training programs may contribute to their resolution are canvassed.