Applied Research in Consulting

“Testing the Latent Growth Curve Model of Academic Engagement and Academic Effort by Controlling for Socioeconomic Status and Prior Academic Achievement in Second-Grade High School Students in Darab City.”

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

غلامرضا علی پور 1
alireza hajiyakhchali 2
Gholamhossein Maktabi 3
Askar Atashafrouz 4

1 Ph.D. Student in Educational Psychology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz

2 “Associate Professor of the Department of Psychology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran (Corresponding Author)”

3 Professor of the Department of Psychology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran

4 Associate Professor of the Department of Psychology, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Iran

Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the latent growth patterns of academic engagement and effort among secondary school students and the role of socioeconomic status and prior academic performance in individual differences in these patterns. The research was longitudinal, utilizing latent growth curve modeling. The population consisted of 10th to 12th-grade students in Darab city during the 2022-2023 academic year, with a sample of 600 students selected through multistage cluster sampling. Data were collected over four waves (October to January) using Fredricks’ (2004) Academic Engagement Questionnaire, Pintrich and De Groot’s (1990) Motivational Strategies for Learning Questionnaire, Ghodratnama’s (1392) Socioeconomic Status Questionnaire, and students’ GPA as an indicator of academic performance. Results indicated a linear, declining trend in both academic engagement and effort over the year. Significant variances in intercepts and slopes confirmed individual differences. A negative correlation (r=-0.27, p<0.05) was found between initial levels and decline rates. Socioeconomic status and prior academic performance positively and significantly influenced initial levels and growth rates. The model showed good statistical fit. The findings highlight the need for school-based interventions and support for disadvantaged students to sustain academic motivation and effort.

Keywords

Academic engagement
effort
academic performance
socioeconomic status
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