STUDENTS' DISTRESS OVER GRADES: ENTITLEMENT OR A COPING RESPONSE?

Abstract

Faculties across disciplines have noted an increasing number of students whoare highly distressed over grades, and this distress is accompanied by pervasivedemands on professors. The student behavior takes several forms, includingdemands for higher grades, expectations of special accommodations by faculty,and the predictions of dire outcomes for grades less than an A. This study surveyeda group of MSW students using an instrument consisting of the AcademicEntitlement Scale and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Using LatentClass Analysis, 2 distinct subgroups were identified: students with high andlow self-esteem. High self-esteem students were more likely to make pervasivedemands on professors. Findings suggest this behavior is a coping response tointernal distress. Suggestions and implications follow.