Academic Orientations of African-American Adolescents: A Study in Miami-Dade County, Florida [Paperback]

Paula B. Fernandez (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 30, 2008

Many African-American high school studentsunderachieve, drop out, and fail to pursue a highereducation. A critical factor of academic achievementand students' relationship to school, peers, family, their community, and the broader society istheir academic orientation, which is the student'sperception that education is or is not a path tosucceed in American society. Previous studies haveconcentrated on why African-Americans adopt anadversarial academic orientation, while immigrantstudents incline toward a positive academicorientation. However, some African-American childrenmanage to adopt a positive academic orientation andpursue educational success. In this study, I examinethe relationship between academic orientation andethnic identity formation. Most theories on ethnicidentity are static ones, and do not fit into anaccurate analysis of the African-American sample inthis book. A dynamic concept of ethnicity isnecessary to determine what social factors definethese students' academic orientation and achievement.This book provides a new perspective on racialidentity formation and its impact on academicorientation for African-Americans.

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About the Author

Paula B. Fernández Ph.D. was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Shereceived her B.A. in Sociology and Anthropology from FloridaInternational University (FIU), and her Masters and Ph.D. inComparative Sociology from FIU in Miami, Florida. She is anAssistant Professor at the Department of Sociology in WilliamPaterson University in New Jersey.

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: VDM Verlag (September 30, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3639081951
• ISBN-13: 978-3639081954
• Product Dimensions: 8.7 x 5.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)