Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026
08:33
A Cross-Disciplinary and Multi-Modal Experimental Design for Studying Near-Real-Time Authentic Examination Experiences
Published on: September 4, 2019
Understanding students' perceptions of a high school course designed to enhance school connectedness
Jane Chung-Do1, Karla Filibeck, Deborah A Goebert
1Department of Psychiatry, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, 1441 Kapi'olani Blvd., Suite 1802, Honolulu, HI 96814, USA. chungj@dop.hawaii.edu
The Journal of School Health
|June 21, 2013
Summary
This study found that a 4-year high school course significantly enhances students' school connectedness. Key factors include teacher relationships, small class sizes, and consistent peer groups, fostering academic motivation and school involvement.
Area of Science:
- Educational Psychology
- Adolescent Development
- School Climate Research
Background:
- Evaluation of a 4-year high school course designed to improve school connectedness.
- Focus on a student body primarily composed of Asian and Pacific Islander students in Hawai'i.
Purpose of the Study:
- To understand the impact of the course on students' sense of school connectedness.
- To identify critical factors contributing to the course's effectiveness.
Main Methods:
- Development of focus group guides in collaboration with course instructors.
- Random selection of approximately 70 students per grade level for focus group participation.
- Focus groups conducted during lunch periods, with meals provided.
Main Results:
- Students identified teachers as crucial to the course's effectiveness.
- Small class size and remaining with the same cohort for four years were perceived as vital for relationship building.
- Enhanced academic motivation and school involvement were linked to the course's relationship-building aspects.
Conclusions:
- Students value the course for fostering personal relationships essential to school connectedness.
- Schools should implement strategies that promote relationship-building opportunities to enhance student connectedness.
Related Concept Videos
03:00Self-Evaluation: Self-Enhancement and Self-Verification
Social psychologists have documented that feeling good about ourselves and maintaining positive self-esteem is a powerful motivator of human behavior (Tavris & Aronson, 2008). In the United States, members of the predominant culture typically think very highly of themselves and view themselves as good people who are above average on many desirable traits (Ehrlinger, Gilovich, & Ross, 2005). Often, our behavior, attitudes, and beliefs are affected when we experience a threat to our...
01:27Sources of Self-Esteem III: Social Comparison
Social comparison plays a fundamental role in the evaluation of personal success and self-worth. Rather than assessing our achievements in isolation, we interpret their significance relative to personal goals and critically in comparison to the performance of others. A grade of B in a mathematics exam might elicit pride if one's expectation was a C, yet result in disappointment if an A was anticipated or if peers achieved superior results. These comparative evaluations illustrate how both...
02:16Surveys
Often, psychologists develop surveys as a means of gathering data. Surveys are lists of questions to be answered by research participants, and can be delivered as paper-and-pencil questionnaires, administered electronically, or conducted verbally. Generally, the survey itself can be completed in a short time, and the ease of administering a survey makes it easy to collect data from a large number of people.
01:20Social Foundations of Self II: The Generalized Other
According to George Herbert Mead, as children progress beyond the game stage, they develop a more comprehensive understanding of societal rules and norms. This cognitive and social development enables them to internalize the expectations of the broader community, refining their ability to regulate behavior.Consistent participation in organized activities is crucial in helping children recognize that their actions are not isolated but contribute to a more significant, interconnected group effort.
01:22Factors Influencing Attraction I: Proximity
Proximity plays a fundamental role in shaping interpersonal attraction by increasing opportunities for interaction and fostering familiarity. Research consistently demonstrates that individuals are more likely to form social bonds with those who are physically closer to them, whether in residential settings, workplaces, or educational institutions. This effect is largely driven by the increased frequency of encounters, which facilitates the development of friendships and romantic...
04:49Robbers Cave
During the 1950s, the landmark Robbers Cave experiment demonstrated that when groups must compete with one another, intergroup conflict, hostility, and even violence may result. At the Oklahoman summer camp, two troops of boys—termed the Rattlers and the Eagles—took part in a week-long tournament. During this time, their negativity culminated in derogatory name-calling, fistfights, and even vandalism and destruction of property. However, this work also revealed that such tension could be...