MOTIVATION AND MATHEMATICS ACHIEVEMENT - A COMPARATIVE-STUDY OF ASIAN-AMERICAN, CAUCASIAN-AMERICAN, AND EAST-ASIAN HIGH-SCHOOL-STUDENTS

This study examined the motivation and mathematics achievement of Asia n-American, Caucasian-American, and East Asian students. Subjects were 304 Asian-American, 1,958 Caucasian-American, 1,475 Chinese (Taiwan), and 1,120 Japanese eleventh graders (mean age = 17.6 years). Students were given a curriculum-based mathematics test and a questionnaire. M athematics scores of the Asian-American students were higher than thos e of Caucasian-American students but lower than those of Chinese and J apanese students. Factors associated with the achievement of Asian-Ame rican and East Asian students included having parents and peers who ho ld high standards, believing that the road to success is through effor t, having positive attitudes about achievement, studying diligently, a nd facing less interference with their schoolwork from jobs and inform al peer interactions. Contrary to the popular belief that Asian-Americ an students' high achievement necessarily takes a psychological toll, they were found not to report a greater frequency of maladjustive symp toms than Caucasian-American students.