Perceived University Students’ Attributions of Their Academic Success and Failure
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Date
2012
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Asian Social Science
Abstract
This study examined the applicability of the attribution theory in understanding how students attribute their
academic success and failure. Participants involved a sample of 260 undergraduate students at the University of
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. They completed an attitude questionnaire scale with items on locus of control, stability
and controllability dimensions. The results show that the majority of students attributed their academic
performance to internal, stable and controllable factors. High performing students were more likely to attribute
their academic performance to internal and controllable factors than low performing students. Success was
attributed to internal and controllable factors, while academic failure was attributed to external and uncontrollable
factors. Save for sex, the participants’ demographic variables did not statistically significantly influence the
attribution pattern. The results of this study confirm the predictions of the attribution theory and are in line with the
findings of similar studies conducted in other university settings.
Description
Full text available at http://search.proquest.com/openview/16357dcd91c1d32baefaad26df5274cd/1?pq-origsite=gschola
Keywords
attribution, academic performance, academic success, academic failure, Tanzania
Citation
Mkumbo, K.A. and Amani, J., 2012. Perceived University Students' Attributions of Their Academic Success and Failure. Asian Social Science, 8(7), p.247.