The academic self–efficacy beliefs of disadvantaged gifted black middle school students in the North West province of South Africa

[摘要] The purpose of this study was to determine, by means of a review of the literature andan empirical investigation, the influence of certain variables on the academicachievement and the self-efficacy beliefs of disadvantaged gifted students.From the review of the literature it was concluded that self-efficacy beliefs influenceacademic achievement. Students with a high sense of self-efficacy for accomplishing atask participate more eagerly in a learning task, work harder, persist longer andachieve at a higher level than those who doubt their capabilities. Students with a highsense of self-efficacy are more self-regulated than those with a low sense of selfefficacy.It was concluded from the review of literature that disadvantaged gifted studentsperform lower than their potential due to various social and environmental factors.Disadvantaged gifted students are characterized by under-achievement, lack of generalmotivation to learn, parents with a low level of education, teachers who lackappreciation, poor socio-economic background, academic skills deficit, low selfesteem,rebellious attitude, lower expectations, and avoidance behaviours.Disadvantaged gifted students are very often not selected through the methods usedfor the identification of gifted students. This is because when those methods are used,the language, cultural and home background of the disadvantaged gifted students arenot taken into consideration when results are interpreted.By means of an empirical investigation it could be concluded that there is a differencebetween disadvantaged gifted students and disadvantaged non-gifted students withrelation to certain variables. The hypothesis that there is a relationship between certainvariables and the academic achievement of disadvantaged gifted students anddisadvantaged non-gifted students could be accepted. The hypothesis that there is arelationship between certain variables and the academic self-efficacy beliefs ofdisadvantaged gifted students could also be accepted.

[发布机构] North-West University