Message from the African American S

Message from the African American Success Foundation

Dear Friends and Colleagues:
It is our pleasure to provide you with a copy of our latest research that identifies contributors to African American success. You may know that there is a dearth of information that documents the attitudes and behaviors of African Americans who are excelling in various endeavors. Historically, well-meaning individuals and organizations have supported studies that they hope will "fix" the problems of African Americans by investigating the root causes of failures and proposing strategies to prevent these problems in the future. The African American Success Foundation (AASF) believes there is another way to do this.

Founded in 1997, AASF is a 501 (c) (3), not-for-profit tax-exempt organization whose mission is to promote the positive image of African Americans. AASF is dedicated to the collection and dissemination of information regarding African American achievements. Our goals are to aid in the replication of those successes and to ensure their accurate portrayal in the global community. Our activities include:

Information clearinghouse — Providing the public with information about the diverse and broad-based achievements of African Americans.
Scientific research/think tank — Identifying the attitudes and behaviors that make African Americans successful.
Charitable support — Using Black philanthropy to encourage graduate students and professionals to build the science of success by studying African American success issues.

AASF provides grants to support research which studies attitudes and behaviors that contribute to high academic achievement and professional accomplishments by African Americans. By documenting the success of high achievers, social scientists and policy makers have the tools to implement private initiatives and government programs that foster high achievement and positive outcomes.

The following report, Tomorrow’s Forecast: Future Orientation As A Protective Factor Among Low-Income African American Adolescents, examines the importance of being able to visualize oneself as successful in the future. Youngsters who develop a clear view of themselves as finishing school and attaining further goals in life are more likely to be those who excel academically.

AASF is proud to support this research and looks forward to providing future scientific reports that add to our understanding of African American success.

We look forward to your support of the goals of the African American Success Foundation.
Sincerely,
Douglas C. Lyons E. Carol Webster, Ph.D.
Douglas C. Lyons, Chairperson Dr. E. Carol Webster, President and CEO


Zena Mello
Ms. Mello is currently a doctoral candidate in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at The Pennsylvania State University, where she also received a Master’s of Science degree in 2000. She has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and was honored with College Service Award upon graduation in 1994. In 2000, she was selected for an Educational Award from the Pennsylvania Psychological Foundation and a Volunteer Award from Stormbreak Runaway and Homeless Shelter in Pennsylvania for her years of dedication and volunteer work with runaway and homeless adolescents. Ms. Mello is a member of Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society, the Society for Research on Adolescence, and the Society for Research on Child Development. Her research focuses on the future orientation and identity formation of low-income and ethnic minority adolescents.

Tomorrow’s Forecast: Future Orientation As A Protective Factor Among Low-Income African American Adolescents

Prepared by
Zena R. Mello, M.S.
July, 2001

Dena Phillips Swanson, Ph.D.
Faculty Mentor
The Pennsylvania State University
Department of Human Development and Family Studies









DO NOT CITE WITHOUT PERMISSION



A portion of this paper was presented at the Society for Research on Child Development, Minneapolis, MN, March, 2001. Comments are welcome and appreciated. Sincere gratitude is expressed to Drs. Dena Swanson, Linda Burton, and Janis Jacobs for their feedback and contribution to the development of this work. The author would also like to thank Dr. Margaret Beale Spencer for generously providing the data used for this study and to the adolescents whose participation made this research possible. To contact the author please write: S-113 Henderson Building, University Park, PA, 16802 or email at [e-mail].

Overview

This report summarizes findings from an investigation of the relationship between academic achievement and future orientation among low-income African American adolescents. This study highlights the academic achievement of African American adolescents and draws from a resilience theoretical perspective. Resilience research emphasizes positive adaptation to stress and adversity and utilizes a strength-based model (Spencer, Cole, Dupree, Glymph, & Pierre, 1993). This research illuminates adolescents’ academic and future-oriented strengths despite challenges they may face due to low-socioeconomic status (SES).
The report is organized as follows. First, a brief introduction is provided including an overview of the literature reviewed. Second, the methods are described, followed by a review of the major findings. Finally, conclusions are drawn regarding the major findings and the implications of this research for prevention and intervention programs.

I. Introduction
African American adolescents are more likely to experience persistent poverty than other youth (McLoyd, 1998). Low-income children, on average, perform less well than children from middle and high income families, on numerous indicators of academic achievement including standardized tests, high school graduation, and completed years of schooling (Hill & Sandfort, 1995; Keating, 1990; McLoyd, 1998). Academic achievement is a strong indicator of occupational attainment in adulthood, where research suggests that the number of completed years of schooling is the single largest predictor of adult occupation (Entwisle, 1990). Academic achievement disparities have been documented between ethnic minority groups. Some gender differences also exist in academic achievement, where females have been found to have a higher grade point average than males (Ford & Harris, 1997). For these reasons it is imperative to examine adolescents who are negotiating challenges associated with academic achievement in low-income contexts. Once identified, protective mechanisms that indicate resiliency may be used to develop effective intervention programs. Towards this aim, this study examined the role of future orientation as an indicator of resiliency among low-SES African American adolescents.
Future orientation was defined as one’s expectations and the degree to which one is thoughtful about their future. This definition draws from Nurmi (1991), where future orientation is a multidimensional concept that includes such dimensions as planning, realism, and a sense of control. Future orientation is important for adolescents because it is related to decisions about one’s education, career, and family (Havighurst, 1972; Nurmi, 1991; Seginer, 1988). Future orientation is also positively related to academic achievement. For example, Zimbardo & Boyd (1999) reported that grade point average and hours of studying per week were positively related to future orientation in a study of college students. Israelashvili (1997) also found that 5th through 12th grade students’ future expectations were positively related to school adjustment and school membership.
Future orientation also may play an important role as a protective factor in promoting resiliency for youth facing adversities related to low-SES. Some empirical evidence exists to support this notion. Wyman, Cowen, Work, & Kerley (1993) concluded that thinking about the future or having a positive future orientation was related to enhanced socioemotional development and school adjustment in a longitudinal study of 136 9-11 year old children living in poverty. In another study, Wyman (1992) and colleagues found that positive expectations for the future were related to resilient children. Resilience research emphasizes those mechanisms that enable some individuals to weather adversity successfully and is useful for exploring future orientation as a protective factor.
Although conceptual frameworks suggest future orientation may be an indicator of resiliency, very little of the existing literature on future orientation has included ethnic minority participants (Nurmi, 1991). An exception is the recent work by McCabe and Barnett (2000) who found that 6th grade urban African American students had better developed ideas and plans about their future careers compared to their ideas about family relationships. Yet, there remains a significant gap in our understanding of African American adolescents’ future orientation. Focusing on the strengths of African American adolescents who face challenges related to low-SES will greatly contribute to our understanding of these youth and may ultimately lead to the development of effective intervention programs. Therefore, this study addresses the following research questions:
•What is the future orientation of low-income African American adolescents?
•How is academic achievement related to the future orientation of low-income African American adolescents?
•Are there gender differences in African American adolescents future orientation and academic achievement?

II. Methods
The data were drawn from a longitudinal study addressing resiliency among low-income adolescents: Promoting Academic Competence (PAC; Spencer, 1988). Approximately 3,000 adolescents completed a twenty-minute self-report survey. Students came from four middle schools in a large southeastern urban city. From this sample, students were randomly selected t

Hasil (Bahasa Indonesia) 1:

Pesan dari Yayasan African American sukses Dear teman dan kolega:Ini adalah kesenangan kita untuk menyediakan Anda dengan salinan kami penelitian terbaru yang mengidentifikasi kontributor African American sukses. Anda mungkin tahu bahwa ada kekurangan informasi yang mendokumentasikan sikap dan perilaku Afrika Amerika yang unggul dalam berbagai usaha. Secara historis, bermaksud baik individu dan organisasi mendukung penelitian bahwa mereka berharap akan "memperbaiki" masalah Afrika Amerika oleh menyelidiki akar penyebab kegagalan dan mengusulkan strategi untuk mencegah masalah ini di masa depan. African American sukses Foundation (AASF) percaya ada cara lain untuk melakukan hal ini. Didirikan pada tahun 1997, AASF adalah 501 (c) (3), tidak-untuk-laba organisasi bebas pajak yang misinya adalah untuk mempromosikan citra positif dari Afrika Amerika. AASF didedikasikan untuk pengumpulan dan penyebaran informasi mengenai prestasi African American. Tujuan kami adalah untuk membantu dalam replikasi keberhasilan mereka dan memastikan mereka gambaran yang akurat dalam komunitas global. Kegiatan kami meliputi: Informasi clearinghouse — menyediakan publik dengan informasi tentang prestasi yang beragam dan berbasis luas Afrika Amerika.Penelitian ilmiah/wadah pemikir — mengidentifikasi sikap dan perilaku yang membuat Afrika Amerika yang sukses.Dukungan amal — filantropi menggunakan hitam untuk mendorong siswa pasca sarjana dan profesional untuk membangun ilmu sukses dengan mempelajari isu-isu African American sukses. AASF provides grants to support research which studies attitudes and behaviors that contribute to high academic achievement and professional accomplishments by African Americans. By documenting the success of high achievers, social scientists and policy makers have the tools to implement private initiatives and government programs that foster high achievement and positive outcomes. The following report, Tomorrow’s Forecast: Future Orientation As A Protective Factor Among Low-Income African American Adolescents, examines the importance of being able to visualize oneself as successful in the future. Youngsters who develop a clear view of themselves as finishing school and attaining further goals in life are more likely to be those who excel academically. AASF is proud to support this research and looks forward to providing future scientific reports that add to our understanding of African American success. We look forward to your support of the goals of the African American Success Foundation.Sincerely,Douglas C. Lyons E. Carol Webster, Ph.D.Douglas C. Lyons, Chairperson Dr. E. Carol Webster, President and CEO Zena MelloMs. Mello is currently a doctoral candidate in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies at The Pennsylvania State University, where she also received a Master’s of Science degree in 2000. She has a Bachelor’s of Arts in Psychology from the University of California, Santa Cruz, and was honored with College Service Award upon graduation in 1994. In 2000, she was selected for an Educational Award from the Pennsylvania Psychological Foundation and a Volunteer Award from Stormbreak Runaway and Homeless Shelter in Pennsylvania for her years of dedication and volunteer work with runaway and homeless adolescents. Ms. Mello is a member of Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society, the Society for Research on Adolescence, and the Society for Research on Child Development. Her research focuses on the future orientation and identity formation of low-income and ethnic minority adolescents. Tomorrow’s Forecast: Future Orientation As A Protective Factor Among Low-Income African American Adolescents Prepared byZena R. Mello, M.S.July, 2001 Dena Phillips Swanson, Ph.D.Faculty MentorThe Pennsylvania State UniversityDepartment of Human Development and Family Studies DO NOT CITE WITHOUT PERMISSION A portion of this paper was presented at the Society for Research on Child Development, Minneapolis, MN, March, 2001. Comments are welcome and appreciated. Sincere gratitude is expressed to Drs. Dena Swanson, Linda Burton, and Janis Jacobs for their feedback and contribution to the development of this work. The author would also like to thank Dr. Margaret Beale Spencer for generously providing the data used for this study and to the adolescents whose participation made this research possible. To contact the author please write: S-113 Henderson Building, University Park, PA, 16802 or email at [e-mail]. Overview This report summarizes findings from an investigation of the relationship between academic achievement and future orientation among low-income African American adolescents. This study highlights the academic achievement of African American adolescents and draws from a resilience theoretical perspective. Resilience research emphasizes positive adaptation to stress and adversity and utilizes a strength-based model (Spencer, Cole, Dupree, Glymph, & Pierre, 1993). This research illuminates adolescents’ academic and future-oriented strengths despite challenges they may face due to low-socioeconomic status (SES).The report is organized as follows. First, a brief introduction is provided including an overview of the literature reviewed. Second, the methods are described, followed by a review of the major findings. Finally, conclusions are drawn regarding the major findings and the implications of this research for prevention and intervention programs. I. IntroductionAfrican American adolescents are more likely to experience persistent poverty than other youth (McLoyd, 1998). Low-income children, on average, perform less well than children from middle and high income families, on numerous indicators of academic achievement including standardized tests, high school graduation, and completed years of schooling (Hill & Sandfort, 1995; Keating, 1990; McLoyd, 1998). Academic achievement is a strong indicator of occupational attainment in adulthood, where research suggests that the number of completed years of schooling is the single largest predictor of adult occupation (Entwisle, 1990). Academic achievement disparities have been documented between ethnic minority groups. Some gender differences also exist in academic achievement, where females have been found to have a higher grade point average than males (Ford & Harris, 1997). For these reasons it is imperative to examine adolescents who are negotiating challenges associated with academic achievement in low-income contexts. Once identified, protective mechanisms that indicate resiliency may be used to develop effective intervention programs. Towards this aim, this study examined the role of future orientation as an indicator of resiliency among low-SES African American adolescents.Future orientation was defined as one’s expectations and the degree to which one is thoughtful about their future. This definition draws from Nurmi (1991), where future orientation is a multidimensional concept that includes such dimensions as planning, realism, and a sense of control. Future orientation is important for adolescents because it is related to decisions about one’s education, career, and family (Havighurst, 1972; Nurmi, 1991; Seginer, 1988). Future orientation is also positively related to academic achievement. For example, Zimbardo & Boyd (1999) reported that grade point average and hours of studying per week were positively related to future orientation in a study of college students. Israelashvili (1997) also found that 5th through 12th grade students’ future expectations were positively related to school adjustment and school membership.Future orientation also may play an important role as a protective factor in promoting resiliency for youth facing adversities related to low-SES. Some empirical evidence exists to support this notion. Wyman, Cowen, Work, & Kerley (1993) concluded that thinking about the future or having a positive future orientation was related to enhanced socioemotional development and school adjustment in a longitudinal study of 136 9-11 year old children living in poverty. In another study, Wyman (1992) and colleagues found that positive expectations for the future were related to resilient children. Resilience research emphasizes those mechanisms that enable some individuals to weather adversity successfully and is useful for exploring future orientation as a protective factor.Although conceptual frameworks suggest future orientation may be an indicator of resiliency, very little of the existing literature on future orientation has included ethnic minority participants (Nurmi, 1991). An exception is the recent work by McCabe and Barnett (2000) who found that 6th grade urban African American students had better developed ideas and plans about their future careers compared to their ideas about family relationships. Yet, there remains a significant gap in our understanding of African American adolescents’ future orientation. Focusing on the strengths of African American adolescents who face challenges related to low-SES will greatly contribute to our understanding of these youth and may ultimately lead to the development of effective intervention programs. Therefore, this study addresses the following research questions:•What is the future orientation of low-income African American adolescents?•How is academic achievement related to the future orientation of low-income African American adolescents?•Are there gender differences in African American adolescents future orientation and academic achievement? II. MethodsThe data were drawn from a longitudinal study addressing resiliency among low-income adolescents: Promoting Academic Competence (PAC; Spencer, 1988). Approximately 3,000 adolescents completed a twenty-minute self-report survey. Students came from four middle schools in a large southeastern urban city. From this sample, students were randomly selected t