4th Arts & Humanities Conference, Stockholm

AN INVESTIGATION OF HOPE AND LIFE SATISFACTION IN PREDICTING ACADEMIC SUCCESS OF SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS

MAKBULE KALI SOYER, ESIN YILMAZ

Abstract:

A positive self-perception of success since the early years education has an important effect on improving one’s academic success. Besides, hope which is a cognitive competence and defined as a process of an ability to think one’s goals correlated with motivation to take action and ways to reach these goals while improving student success is also crucial. Life satisfaction, which is a cognitive competence described as personal well-being, is considered as another dimension to contribute success. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between life satisfaction, level of hope and academic success of the students in secondary schools. Gathered data on 528 secondary students. The Multidimensional Students’ Life Satisfaction Scale, Children’s Hope Scale and Personal Information Form that shows demographic information of the participants was used in the study. The average level of academicals success are obtained from electronic school information system. While analysing the data simple linear regression was used to test relationship between life satisfaction and hope. As a result of the research, a significant relationship between level of hope and life satisfaction of the students, between level of hope and academic success of the students and between life satisfaction and academic success of the students was observed. As result of the regression analysis it was observed that total contribution of hope and life satisfaction variables is meaningful on predicting academic success. When results of t-test in regard to regression coefficients are analysed, it was discovered that only the hope variable is an important predictor by itself on academic success but life satisfaction has not an important effect by itself. Based on these findings it is suggested that school counsellors develop a guidance and counselling program to enhance students’ hope and academic success in school. Findings of this study is restricted with the data gathered from students sharing the same socio-economic and cultural environment. In this respect, it can be suggested that the new researchers investigate socio-economic and culturally different groups.

Keywords: Students’ Life Satisfaction, Children’s Hope, Secondery School Students, Academic Success