Investigating the effects of heritage culture on problem behaviour and academic achievement in a specific First Nations community

The objective of this study was to examine the influence of heritage culture on academic achievement and problem behavior in minority youth. A sample of 30 First Nations students from a small community in Quebec participated in this study by answering questionnaires on their cultural affiliation and...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Rochester, Lynda Simone
Other Authors: Jacob A Burack (Internal/Supervisor)
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: McGill University 2012
Subjects:
Soi
Online Access:http://digitool.Library.McGill.CA:80/R/?func=dbin-jump-full&object_id=106377
Description
Summary:The objective of this study was to examine the influence of heritage culture on academic achievement and problem behavior in minority youth. A sample of 30 First Nations students from a small community in Quebec participated in this study by answering questionnaires on their cultural affiliation and problem behaviour. The bivariate correlations on all variables only demonstrated a relationship between grade level and problem behaviour. Further probing into the inter-relations was performed through hierarchical regression analyses to ascertain the contributing significance between gender, grade level, academic achievement, problem behaviour and affiliation to heritage culture. Significant results were found between heritage culture and problem behaviour. There were no significant results involving academic achievement and heritage culture. Cultural affiliation may be a positive mediator to problem behaviour. Although no significance was found between heritage culture and academic achievement, potential positive influence within this relationship through attachment, school programs, personal resources and self-esteem will be discussed. Cette étude a eu pour but d'examiner l'effet modérateur que le sens d'appartenance à sa culture a sur les comportements. L'étude regarde aussi si ce même sens d'appartenance a une influence positive sur le succès scolaire. Un groupe de 30 élèves des Premières Nations dans une école située dans une petite communauté située au nord de Montréal, a répondu à des questionnaires portant sur leurs comportements et leurs affiliations à leur culture. L'analyse des corrélations entre les variables précédemment mentionnées a produit un résultat significatif entre l'année scolaire et le comportement, mais une analyse de régression n'a pas eu de résultats concluants entre le succès scolaire et l'affiliation a sa culture. L'impact favorable qu'a l'affiliation culturelle sur le comportement est discuté. Le potentiel positif que peut exhorter l'affiliation culturelle sur le succès scolaire par l'attachement à son école et à ses parents, des programmes pédagogiques culturels et par le développement de l'estime de soi est aussi discuté.