Abstract

The Western Australian School Effectiveness Study (WASES) provided this researcher with a unique opportunity to investigate the relationships between student aspirations, student self-concept, and student achievement. These relationships were estimated using structural equation modelling. The hypothesis that rural and urban students may behave differently and have different influences was also investigated using a technique called multi-sample Analysis in the LISREL software package. Results demonstrated that, while urban students had significantly higher aspirations and achievement, their self-concept was similar to rural students. Further, there were no significant differences between rural and urban students in the paths for student aspirations, student self-concept, and student achievement. The importance of studentself-concept as a mitigating effect on student aspirations and achievement was also demonstrated in this research.

How to Cite:

Young, D. J., (1998) “Ambition, Self-concept, and Achievement: A Structural Equation Model for Comparing Rural and Urban Students”, Journal of Research in Rural Education 14(1), 34–44.

Rights: Copyright