Learning and Motivational Characteristics of Urban Latino High School Youth. (September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Loera, Gustavo; Rueda, Robert; Oh, Youn Joo
• Is Part Of: Urban education. Volume 53:Number 7(2018)
• Page Start: 875
• Page End: 898
• Publication Date: 2018-09
• Subjects: urban -- Latino youth -- learning and motivation; Education, Urban -- Periodicals; Enseignement en milieu urbain -- Périodiques; Éducation; Milieu urbain; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 370.91732
• DOI: 10.1177/0042085915602536
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0042-0859

Abstract

The academic achievement rates of urban Latino students are significantly lower than those of non-minority youth. To date, most of the research on this topic has focused on learning and motivational characteristics of underrepresented youth in elementary and middle school and much less on urban high schools. This study investigated variables related to learning, motivation, and engagement among high school–aged Latino youth. We found that learning and motivational variables were predictive of academic engagement for Latinos, paralleling work with non-minority samples. Motivational variables are seldom given adequate attention when considering interventions for low-achieving students, despite the abundant literature that demonstrates their connection to academic outcomes. Fortunately, the factors examined in the study are amenable to intervention.