L. Okagaki et al., MEXICAN-AMERICAN CHILDRENS PERCEPTIONS OF SELF AND SCHOOL-ACHIEVEMENT, Hispanic journal of behavioral sciences, 18(4), 1996, pp. 469-484
Several theorists (e.g., LaFromboise, Coleman, & Gerton, 1993; Ogbu, 1
992) have suggested that ethnic minority children's beliefs about thei
r ethnicity may affect their self-perceptions in other domains (e.g.,
academic and social competence). The purpose of the present study was
to examine the relations between 4th- and 5th-grade Mexican American c
hildren's beliefs about their ethnicity and their perceptions of thems
elves, their attitudes toward school, and their school performance. In
general, children identified with their own ethnic group over Anglo-A
mericans, but indicated acceptance of all people rather than a prefere
nce for only people of their own ethnic group. Children's beliefs abou
t their ethnicity were related to their perceptions of their social an
d behavioral competence, their self-worth, their attitudes toward scho
ol, and their intrinsic motivation for learning, but not to their scho
ol achievement.