This study investigated female single-parent college students' own attributions of academic success. A sample of 28 single-parent students participated in the study. Results indicated that single-parent students who are more successful make different causal attributions in regard to their GPA than do those who are less successful.
Iowa Stare UniversityOver the years, the number of single parents has increased dramatically. Singleparent families comprised 11% of American families in 1970, but by 1984 this proportion had increased to 25.7% (U.S. Bureau of Census, 1985). Since many single parents attend college they constitute an important and growing part of the student population.Statistics on the attrition rates among single-parent students are not readily accessible. Yet, even if dropout rates among single-parent students were high, it is evident that at lease some single-parent students perform well academically and eventually earn their degrees (Danowski, 1983), despite the time and energy that parenting responsibilities require. Part of the reason why some single-parent students are successful in reaching academic goals may be that they have a high level of academic achievement motivation (McClelland, 1971). According to Weiner (1974, 1979, academic achievement motivation is largely dependent on the kind of causal attributions students make in view of their academic performance. In this regard, Weiner cited evidence in support of the view Requests for reprints should be sent to Sheila Lynds Colbry, Department of Physical Education, Iowa State University, Ames, I A 5001 1.
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