Personality Variables of Achieving and Non-Achieving Mexican-American and Other Community College Freshmen

Abstract

Need to achieve (n-Ach) and other personality variables of 468 middle and low socioeconomic status (SES) entering community college freshmen were measured by the McClelland TAT of n-Achievement (n-Ach) and the Inventory of Self Appraisal (ISA). Groups consisting of 111 lower SES Mexican-Americans, 150 lower SES Anglo-Americans, and 207 middle SES Anglo-Americans, were identified. Analyses of variance between SES groups and academically achieving (“C” average and above) and non-achieving Mexican-American Ss were calculated. Academic progress over a 5-semester period was observed. N-Ach did not differentiate SES groups and subgroups. Five of the six ISA scales distinguished between low SES Mexican-American and middle SES Ss. One ISA scale distinguished between lower SES subgroups. N-Ach and one ISA scale distinguished between achieving and non-achieving lower SES Mexican-Americans.