Correlates of fear of success in black high school females

This study was undertaken to explore the relationship between the motive to achieve and achievement-related (as well as nonachievement-related) behaviors in African American female adolescents. Two samples of African American high school students were used. Participants for the first sample were 25 girls and 37 boys enrolled in grades 9-12 at a predominantly African American vocational high school in New England. Participants for the second sample were 44 girls and 35 boys enrolled in grades 9-12 at a predominantly white college preparatory high school in New England, in close proximity to the high school from which the first sample was selected.

During a regular classroom session, both samples of students wrote stories to four verbal projective cues. In addition, participants responded to a series of questions regarding achievement-related aspirations, attitudes and behaviors, sex role orientation, relationships with family, opinions regarding the writings of African American leaders, opinions about interracial relationships, and background information. Also included were measures assessing anxiety and emotional tension; self-concept; and hopes, wishes, and fears. Several cognitive tasks were also administered.

The Murray Center has photocopies of all paper data, as well as computer-accessible data for the preparatory high school sample.