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Dissertation
Examining Factors Influencing The Science Proficiency Of Florida’s Black High Schoolers
University of West Florida Libraries
Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida
2024
Abstract
The Black student population underperforms all other demographic groups in high school science achievement. The purpose of this quantitative correlational research was to examine various factors influencing the science proficiency of Black students in selected Florida high schools. Florida’s PK–20 Education Information Portal provided the existing data for the school districts sampled (D1 and D2) for this study. Vroom’s (1964, 1995) expectancy theory was the theoretical framework used to understand the association between students’ science achievement on the Biology I End of Course Exam and their demographics. The research used Pearson’s chi-square (χ2) and Phi (φ) statistics to analyze the relationship between proficiency status and each of three dichotomously coded student demographic variables: (a) gender, (b) economic status, and (c) grade group. The results showed no significant relationship between proficiency status and (a) gender (D1: χ2 (1) = .023, p = .880, φ= .013, D2: χ2 (1) = 3.908, p= .048, φ= .132) and a moderately significant relationship between (b) economic status (D1: χ2 (1) = 4.885, p = .027, φ= .187, D2: χ2 (1) = 8.959, p = .003, φ = .200). The results showed the strongest statistical relationship between proficiency status and (c) grade group (D1: χ2 (1) = 16.796, p< .001, φ = -.346, D2: χ2 (1) = 34.984, p < .001, φ= -.395). The results of this study can inform teachers and policymakers on best practices for narrowing the science achievement gap between Black students and students from other demographic groups.
Details
- Title
- Examining Factors Influencing The Science Proficiency Of Florida’s Black High Schoolers
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Contributors
- Mark Malisa (Committee Chair)Patrick Yang (Committee Member)
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 158
- Copyright
- Unpublished work © Deleesa Mechelle Butler
- Identifiers
- 99380551396506600
- Academic Unit
- School of Education
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Doctor of Education (EDD)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida