![[PDF]](/pb-assets/Icons/adobe-pdf-icon-1498649896243.png){kind=icon}
Abstract
Researchers have been challenged to go beyond socioeconomic status in the search for school-level characteristics that make a difference in student achievement. The purpose of the present study was to identify a new construct, academic optimism, and then use it to explain student achievement while controlling for socioeconomic status, previous achievement, and urbanicity. The study focused on a diverse sample of 96 high schools. A random sample of teachers from each school provided data on the school’s academic optimism, and student achievement scores and demographic characteristics were obtained from the state department of education. A confirmatory factor analysis and hypothesis tests were conducted simultaneously via structural equation modeling. As predicted, academic optimism made a significant contribution to student achievement after controlling for demographic variables and previous achievement. The findings support the critical nature of academic optimism.
References
| Alig-Mielcarek, J, Hoy, WK Hoy, WK, Miskel, C Instructional leadership: Its nature, meaning, and influenceEducational leadership and reform2005Greenwich, CTInformation Age2954 Google Scholar | |
| Bandura, A Self-efficacy: Toward a unifying theory of behavioral changePsychological Review197784191215 Google Scholar | Medline | ISI | |
| Bandura, A Social foundations of thought and action1986Englewood Cliffs, NJPrentice Hall Google Scholar | |
| Bandura, A Perceived self-efficacy in cognitive development and functioningEducational Psychologist199328117148 Google Scholar | ISI | |
| Bandura, A Self-efficacy: The exercise of control1997New YorkFreeman Google Scholar | |
| Bentler, PM, Bonnett, DG Significance tests and goodness of fit in the analysis of covariance structuresPsychological Bulletin198088588606 Google Scholar | ISI | |
| Bryk, AS, Lee, V, Holland, P Catholic schools and the common good1993Cambridge, MAHarvard University Press Google Scholar | |
| Bryk, AS, Schneider, B Trust in schools: A core resource for improvement2002New YorkRussell Sage Foundation Google Scholar | |
| Caprara, GV, Barbaranelli, C, Borgogni, L, Steca, P Efficacy beliefs as determinants of teachers' job satisfactionJournal of Educational Psychology200395821832 Google Scholar | ISI | |
| Coleman, JS Schools and the communities they servePhi Delta Kappan198566527532 Google Scholar | ISI | |
| Coleman, JS Radnitzky, G, Bernholz, P Norms as social capitalEconomic imperialism: The economic approach applied outside the field of economics1987New YorkParagon House Google Scholar | |
| Coleman, JS Foundations of social theory1990Cambridge, MAHarvard University Press Google Scholar | |
| Coleman, JS, Campbell, EQ, Hobson, CJ, McPartland, J, Mood, AM, Weinfeld, FD Equality of educational opportunity1966Washington, DCU.S. Government Printing Office Google Scholar | |
| Edmonds, R Some schools work and more canSocial Policy197992832 Google Scholar | |
| Epstein, JL Ames, RE, Ames, C Family structure and student motivationResearch on motivation in education: Vol. 3. Goals and cognitions1989New YorkAcademic Press259295 Google Scholar | |
| Goddard, RG, Hoy, WK, Woolfolk Hoy, A Collective teacher efficacy: Its meaning, measure, and impact on student achievementAmerican Educational Research Journal200037479508 Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
| Goddard, RG, Hoy, WK, Woolfolk Hoy, A Collective efficacy: Theoretical development, empirical evidence, and future directionsEducational Researcher2004333313 Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
| Goddard, RG, LoGerfo, L, Hoy, WK High school accountability: The role of collective efficacyEducational Policy200418403425 Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
| Goddard, RG, Sweetland, SR, Hoy, WK Academic emphasis of urban elementary schools and student achievement: A multi-level analysisEducational Administration Quarterly200036692701 Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
| Goddard, RD, Tschannen-Moran, M, Hoy, WK Teacher trust in students and parents: A multilevel examination of the distribution and effects of teacher trust in urban elementary schoolsElementary School Journal2001102317 Google Scholar | ISI | |
| Hallinger, P, Heck, R Reassessing the principal's role in school effectiveness: A review of the empirical research, 1980–1995Educational Administration Quarterly199632544 Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
| Hox, JJ Multilevel analysis2002Mahwah, NJErlbaum Google Scholar | |
| Hoy, WK Faculty trust: A key to student achievementJournal of School Public Relations20022388103 Google Scholar | |
| Hoy, WK, Hannum, J Middle school climate: An empirical assessment of organizational health and student achievementEducational Administration Quarterly199733290311 Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
| Hoy, WK, Miskel, CG Educational administration: Theory, research, and practice20057th edNew YorkMcGraw-Hill Google Scholar | |
| Hoy, WK, Sabo, DJ Quality middle schools: Open and healthy1998Thousand Oaks, CACorwin Press Google Scholar | |
| Hoy, WK, Smith, PA, Sweetland, SR Hoy, WK, Miskel, C A test of a model of school achievement in rural schools: The significance of collective efficacyTheory and research in educational administration2002Greenwich, CTInformation Age185202 Google Scholar | |
| Hoy, WK, Sweetland, SR, Smith, PA Toward an organizational model of achievement in high schools: The significance of collective efficacyEducational Administration Quarterly2002387793 Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
| Hoy, WK, Tarter, CJ The road to open and healthy schools: A handbook for change1997secondary edThousand Oaks, CACorwin Press Google Scholar | |
| Hoy, WK, Tarter, CJ Administrators solving the problems of practice: Decision-making concepts, cases, and consequences2004BostonAllyn & Bacon Google Scholar | |
| Hoy, WK, Tarter, CJ, Bliss, J Organizational climate, school health, and effectivenessEducational Administration Quarterly199026260279 Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
| Hoy, WK, Tarter, CJ, Kottkamp, RB Open schools/healthy schools: Measuring organizational climate1991Beverly Hills, CASage Google Scholar | |
| Hoy, WK, Tarter, CJ, Woolfolk Hoy, A Hoy, WK, Miskel, C Academic optimism of schoolsContemporary issues in educational policy and school outcomes2006Greenwich, CTInformation Age135156 Google Scholar | |
| Hoy, WK, Tschannen-Moran, M Five faces of trust: An empirical confirmation in urban elementary schoolsJournal of School Leadership19999184208 Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
| Hoy, WK, Tschannen-Moran, M Hoy, WK, Miskel, C The conceptualization and measurement of faculty trust in schoolsStudies in leading and organizing schools2003Greenwich, CTInformation Age181207 Google Scholar | |
| Jencks, C Inequality: A reassessment of the effect of family and schooling in America1972New YorkBasic Books Google Scholar | |
| Joreskog, KG, Sorbom, D LISREL 81993Hillsdale, NJErlbaum Google Scholar | |
| Lee, V, Bryk, AS A multilevel model of social distribution of high school achievementSociology of Education198962172192 Google Scholar | ISI | |
| No Child Left Behind Act, Public Law No. 107-110 (2002) Google Scholar | |
| Pajares, F Role of self-efficacy and self-concept beliefs in mathematical problem-solving: A path analysisJournal of Educational Psychology199486193203 Google Scholar | ISI | |
| Pajares, F Maehr, ML, Pintrich, PR Current directions in self-efficacy researchAdvances in motivation and achievement1997Greenwich, CTJAI Press149 Google Scholar | |
| Parsons, T, Bales, RF, Shils, EA Working papers in the theory of action1953New YorkFree Press Google Scholar | |
| Peterson, C The future of optimismAmerican Psychologist2000554455 Google Scholar | Medline | ISI | |
| Pintrich, PR, Schunk, DH Motivation in education: Theory, research, and applications20022nd edUpper Saddle River, NJMerrill/Prentice Hall Google Scholar | |
| Purkey, SC, Smith, MS Effective schools: A reviewElementary School Journal198383427452 Google Scholar | ISI | |
| Raudenbush, SW, Bryk, AS Hierarchical linear models: Application and data analysis methods20022nd edThousands Oaks, CASage Google Scholar | |
| Scheerens, J, Bosker, R The foundations of educational effectiveness1997Oxford, EnglandPergamon Press Google Scholar | |
| Seligman, MEP Positive social scienceAPA Monitor19982925 Google Scholar | |
| Seligman, MEP, Csikszentmihalyi, M Positive psychology: An introductionAmerican Psychologist200055514 Google Scholar | Medline | ISI | |
| Smith, PA, Hoy, WK, Sweetland, SR Organizational health of high schools and dimensions of faculty trustJournal of School Leadership200111135151 Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | |
| Snyder, CR, Cheavens, J, Sympson, SC Hope: An individual motive for social commerceGroup Dynamics19971107118 Google Scholar | |
| Snyder, CR, Shorey, HS, Cheavens, J, Pulvers, KM, Adams, VH, Wiklund, C Hope and academic success in collegeJournal of Educational Psychology200294820826 Google Scholar | ISI | |
| Stevens, J Intermediate statistics: A modern approach1990Hillsdale, NJErlbaum Google Scholar | |
| Thompson, B Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis: Understanding concepts and applications2004Washington, DCAmerican Psychological Association Google Scholar | |
| Tschannen-Moran, M, Hoy, WK A multidisciplinary analysis of the nature, meaning, and measurement of trustReview of Educational Research200070547593 Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI | |
| Tschannen-Moran, M, Woolfolk Hoy, AW, Hoy, WK Teacher efficacy: Its meaning and measureReview of Educational Research199868202248 Google Scholar | SAGE Journals | ISI |
