RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOAL ATTRIBUTES AND THE ACADEMIC-ACHIEVEMENT OF SOUTHEAST-ASIAN ADOLESCENT REFUGEES

This study examined the relationship among goals, acculturation, and a cademic achievement for a group of 39 Southeast Asian adolescent refug ees enrolled in a bilingual vocational education program at a high sch ool, Students expressed career, work, and family goals that were posit ive in affect and individual in nature. Low goal instability and high goal commitment were significantly related to higher grade point avera ge and goal attainment. Low goal instability was also related to bette r study skills. Acculturation was not significantly related to the aca demic achievement variables. Although the relationship between goal at tributes and academic achievement was supported for this group of Sout heast Asian adolescent refugees, cultural factors limited our ability to interpret the results. A discussion of cross-cultural issues that a re relevant for future research with Southeast Asian refugees is provi ded.