Graduate Program

School Psychology

Degree Name

Specialist in School Psychology

Semester of Degree Completion

1996

Thesis Director

Ronan S. Bernas

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the motivation of students in a tech prep program in relation to that of students in a standard secondary school curriculum. The motivation of students in each program was investigated before and after a year of school. Participants were 70 high school students who attended a school which provided both tech prep and standard curriculums. Central High School of Champaign Illinois was the school from which the participants were found. The method used to collect the data from participants was through questionnaires. The questionnaires used were the motivation for schooling scale of the School Attitude Measure, as well as demographic questions. The results indicated that after one year no significant difference in motivation occurred between participants enrolled in either a tech prep or standard curriculum. However, the participants' race predicted student motivation more so than program type or any other participant characteristics. The results are attributed to methodological issues and cross cultural motivation differences. A revised methods design and further analysis of participants' characteristics are suggested for future research.

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