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SELF-CONCEPT AND SELF-EVALUATION IN THE TRANSITION FROM PRIMARY TO LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION

Year 2014, Volume: 1 , 420 - 426, 01.09.2014

Abstract

In this article I’ll present theoretical concepts and
empirical results of self-concept and self-esteem of the children in transition
from primary school to lower secondary education (LSE). Through the evidences from research literature, this article, aims to
provide answers to such questions: How and what aspects of self-concept and
self-esteem of children develop and change during childhood and adolescence?
Is there a correlation between levels of self-concept and self-assessment that
the child has for him and his academic achievements? Why is it important to maintain high levels of self-concept and
self-esteem of the child for the life in general, and for the school life in
particular? Studies of the last two decades have shown that changes in
self-concept and self-esteem of the child are strongly correlated with pupils’
academic achievements. Keeping positive levels
of self-concept and self-esteem, would facilitate the difficulties of the
child's adjustment at the new school.

References

  • Barber, B. K. & Olsen, J. A. (2004). Assessing the transitions to middle school and high school. Journal of Adolescent Research, 19, 3‐30. Barratt, R. (1998). Shaping middle schooling in australia. A report of the National Middle Schooling Project. Canberra, Australia: Australian Curriculum Studies Association. Bos, A. E. R., Muris, P., Mulkens, S., & Schaalma, H. P. (2006). Changing self-esteem in children and adolescents: A roadmap for future interventions. Netherlands Journal of Psychology, 62, 26-33. Callagan, F. J., Clark, H. L., Kellough, D. R. (1995). Teaching in the middle and secondary schools. Fifth edition, New Jersey. Chang, A. M. and Mackenzie, A. E. (1998). State self-esteem following stroke. Stroke, 29, 2325–2328. Christensen, E. J. (2007). Female adolescents identified with emotional disturbance and adjudicated female adolescents: A comparison of self-concepts. Dissertation Prepared for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. University of North Texas. Cocklin, B. (1999). A journey of transition: From Gumly Gumly public to secondary school. Wagga Wagga: Charles Sturt University. publications.aare.edu.au/99pap/coc99595.htm Coopersmith, S. (1967). The Antecedents of Self Esteem. Freeman, San Francisco, CA. Cox, Sh. and Kennedy, Sh. (2008). Report No. 1. Students’ Transition from Primary to Secondary Schooling Study. Ministry of Education. Wellington, New Zealand. Eccles, S. J. & Wigfield, A. (2000). Schooling’s Influences on Motivation and Achievement. Securing the future: Investing to children from birth to college. S. Denzinger and T. Waldfogerl. New Jork, Russell Sage Foundation (pp. 153-181). Eccles, S. J., Midgley, C., Wigfield, A., Buchanan, M. Ch., Reuman, D., Flanagan, C., & MacIver, D. (1993). Development During Adolescence: The Impact of Stage-Environment Fit on Young Adolescents' Experiences in Schools and in Families. American Psychological Association, 48 (2), 90-101. Eccles, S. J., Wigfield, A., Flanagan, C., Miller, C., Reuman, D., & Yee, D. (1989). Self-concepts, Domain Values, and Self-esteem: Relations and Changes at early Adolescence. Journal of Personality 57(2), 283-310. Elbaum, B., & Vaughn, S. (2001). School-based interventions to enhance the self-concept of students with learning disabilities: A meta-analysis. The Elementary School Journal, 101(3), 303-329. Furnham, A. and Cheng, H. (2000). Lay theories of happiness. Journal of Happiness Studies, 1, 227–246. Gniewosz, B., Eccles, S. J., & Noack, P. (2011). Secondary School Transition and the Use of Different Sources of Information for the Construction of the Academic Self-concept. Social Development (pp. 1-21). Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Graham, C. & Hill, M. (2002). The transition to secondary school. Report of a study funded by the Esme fairbairn charitable trust. Glasgow centre for the child & society. University of Glasgow. Scotland, U.K. Gresham, F. M., Elliott, S. N., & Evans-Fernandez, S. E. (1993). Student self-concept scale manual. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service, Inc. Harter, S. (1990). Causes, correlates and the functional role of global self-worth: A life-span perspective. In J. Kolligian & R. Sternberg (Eds.), Perceptions of competence and incompetence across the life-span (pp. 67–98). New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. Harter, S. (1999). The construction of the self: A developmental perspective. New York: Guilford. Harter, S. (2003). The development of self-representations during childhood and adolescence. In M. R. Leary and J. P. Tangney, Handbook of self and identity (pp. 610-642). New York: The Guilford Press. Jacobs J. E., Lanza, S., Osgood, D. W., Eccles, J. S., Wigfield, A. (2002). Changes in children's self-competence and values: gender and domain differences across grades one through twelve. Child Development, 73(2): 509-27. Kids Health. The story on self-esteem. Nemouros. kidshealth.org Kihlstrom, J.F. and Cantor, N. (1983) Mental representations of the self. In Berkowitz, L. (ed.), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, vol. 17, pp. 1–47. Kroger, J. (2006). Identity in Early Adolescence. Chapter 2. Sage Publications, 33-58. Kvalsund, R. (2000). “The Transition from Primary to Secondary Level in Smaller and Larger Rural Schools in Norway: Comparing Differences in Context and Social Meaning”. International Journal of Educational Research, Vol. 33(4), 401-424. Leary, M. R., & Mac Donald, G. (2003). Individual differences in self-esteem: A review and theoretical integration. In M. R. Leary and J. P. Tangney, Handbook of self and identity (pp. 401-420). New York: The Guilford Press. Mann, M., Hosman, H. M. C., Schaalma, P. H. and de Vries, K. N. (2004). Self-esteem in a broad-spectrum approach for mental health promotion. Health Education Research, Theory & Practice. Vol.19 (4), 357–372. Downloaded from http://her.oxfordjournals.org Manning, A. M. (2007). Self-concept and self-esteem in Adolescents. Student Service (p. 11-15). www.uasponline.org\families\selfconcept.pdf Marcia, J. E. (1980). Ego identity development. In J. Adelson (Ed.), Handbook of adolescent psychology (pp. 159–187). New York: Wiley. Markus, H., & Nurius, P. (1986). Possible selves. American Psychologist, 41, 954–969. Marsh, H. W. (1990). Influences of internal and external frames of reference on the formation of math and English self-concepts. Journal of Educational Psychology, 82(1), 107–116. Marsh, H. W., Barnes, J. Cairns, L., & Tidman, M. (1984). Self-Description Questionnaire: Age and sex effects in the structure and level of self-concept for preadolescent children. Journal of Educational Psychology, 76, 940-956. McGee, C., Ward, R., Gibbons, J. & Harlow, A. (2004). Transition to Secondary School: A Literature Review. The University of Waikato. Hamilton. New Zealand. www.minedu.govt.nz Oyserman, D., Elmore, K., & Smith, G. (2012). Self, Self-Concept, and Identity. In Leary, R. M. & Tangney, P. J. Handbook of Self and Identity. Second Edition. Chapter 4, p. 69-104. New York: The Guilford Press. Rhodes, J., Roffman, J., Reddy, R., & Fredriksen, K. (2004). Changes in self-esteem during the middle school years: a latent growth curve study of individual and contextual influences. Journal of School Psychology 42: 243–261. Roeser, R. W., Eccles, J. S., & Sameroff, A. J. (2000). School as a context of early adolescents‟ academic and social-emotional development: A summary of research findings. The Elementary School Journal, 100(5): 443-471. Rogers, C. (1959). A Theory of Therapy, personality and Interpersonal Relationships as Developed in the Client-centered Framework. In (ed) S. Koch, Psychology: A study of Science. Vol. 3: Formulations of the Person and the Social Context. New York: McGraw Hill. http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/bio_rogers.htm Serbin, A. L. & Bukowski, M. W. (2006). The Transition from Primary To Secondary Schooling: Strategies For Success In Vulnerable Populations. Final Report (FQRSC). Centre for Research in Human Development. Concordia University. _________. Self-concept. Chapter 15, f. 317. www.cengagesites.com/academic/assets/sites/pdf‎ Ssu-Kuang, Ch., Ju-Chen, j., Fang-Ming, H., & Sunny, S. J. (2013). The relationship between Academik Self-concept and Achievement: A Multicohort-Multioccasion Study. Learning and Individual Diferences. 23, 172-178. Susman, E. J., & Rogel, A. (2004). Puberty and psychological development. In R. M. Lerner & L.D. Steinberg (Eds.), Handbook of adolescent psychology (2nd ed., pp. 15–44). New York:Wiley. Sutherland, R., Yee, Ch. V., McNess, E., Harris, R. (2010). Supporting learning in the transition from primary to secondary school. Final Report, University of Bristol. Tilleczek, K. & Ferguson, B. (2007). Transitions and pathways from Elementary school to secondary school: A review of selected literature. Community Health Systems Resource Group The Hospital for Sick Children For the Ontario Ministry of Education Toronto, Canada. Nga Tonkin, S. E. & Watt, M. H. (2003). Self-concept over the transition from primary to secondary school: a case study on a program for girls. Issues in Educational Research, 13. From: http://education.curtin.edu.au/iier/iier13/tonkin.html Waterman, A. (1982). Identity development from adolescence to adulthood: An extension of theory and a review of research. Developmental Psychology, 18, 341–358. Wigfield, A. & Tonks, S. (2002). Adolescents’ Expectancies for Success and Achievement Task Values during the Middle and High School Years. In F. Pajares & T. Urdan. Achademic Motivation of Adolescence. Chapter 3. Information Age Publishing Inc. USA. P. 53-82. Wigfield, A., & Wagner, A. L. (2005). Competence and motivation during adolescence. In A. Elliott & C.Dweck (Eds.), Handbook of competence and motivation (pp. 222–239). New York: Guilford Press. Wigfield, A., Eccles, J. S., Mac Iver, D., Reuman, D. & Midgley, C. (1991). Transitions During Early Adolescence: Changes in Children’s Domain-Specific Self-perceptions and General Self-esteem Across the Transition to Junior High School. Developmental Psychology, 27(4): 552-565. Wigfield, A., Lutz, L. S. & Wagner L. A. (2005). Early Adolescents’Development Across the Middle School Years: Implications for School Counselors. Professional School Counseling, 9(2), 112-119.
Year 2014, Volume: 1 , 420 - 426, 01.09.2014

Abstract

References

  • Barber, B. K. & Olsen, J. A. (2004). Assessing the transitions to middle school and high school. Journal of Adolescent Research, 19, 3‐30. Barratt, R. (1998). Shaping middle schooling in australia. A report of the National Middle Schooling Project. Canberra, Australia: Australian Curriculum Studies Association. Bos, A. E. R., Muris, P., Mulkens, S., & Schaalma, H. P. (2006). Changing self-esteem in children and adolescents: A roadmap for future interventions. Netherlands Journal of Psychology, 62, 26-33. Callagan, F. J., Clark, H. L., Kellough, D. R. (1995). Teaching in the middle and secondary schools. Fifth edition, New Jersey. Chang, A. M. and Mackenzie, A. E. (1998). State self-esteem following stroke. Stroke, 29, 2325–2328. Christensen, E. J. (2007). Female adolescents identified with emotional disturbance and adjudicated female adolescents: A comparison of self-concepts. Dissertation Prepared for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy. University of North Texas. Cocklin, B. (1999). A journey of transition: From Gumly Gumly public to secondary school. Wagga Wagga: Charles Sturt University. publications.aare.edu.au/99pap/coc99595.htm Coopersmith, S. (1967). The Antecedents of Self Esteem. Freeman, San Francisco, CA. Cox, Sh. and Kennedy, Sh. (2008). Report No. 1. Students’ Transition from Primary to Secondary Schooling Study. Ministry of Education. Wellington, New Zealand. Eccles, S. J. & Wigfield, A. (2000). Schooling’s Influences on Motivation and Achievement. Securing the future: Investing to children from birth to college. S. Denzinger and T. Waldfogerl. New Jork, Russell Sage Foundation (pp. 153-181). Eccles, S. J., Midgley, C., Wigfield, A., Buchanan, M. Ch., Reuman, D., Flanagan, C., & MacIver, D. (1993). Development During Adolescence: The Impact of Stage-Environment Fit on Young Adolescents' Experiences in Schools and in Families. American Psychological Association, 48 (2), 90-101. Eccles, S. J., Wigfield, A., Flanagan, C., Miller, C., Reuman, D., & Yee, D. (1989). Self-concepts, Domain Values, and Self-esteem: Relations and Changes at early Adolescence. Journal of Personality 57(2), 283-310. Elbaum, B., & Vaughn, S. (2001). School-based interventions to enhance the self-concept of students with learning disabilities: A meta-analysis. The Elementary School Journal, 101(3), 303-329. Furnham, A. and Cheng, H. (2000). Lay theories of happiness. Journal of Happiness Studies, 1, 227–246. Gniewosz, B., Eccles, S. J., & Noack, P. (2011). Secondary School Transition and the Use of Different Sources of Information for the Construction of the Academic Self-concept. Social Development (pp. 1-21). Blackwell Publishing Ltd. Graham, C. & Hill, M. (2002). The transition to secondary school. Report of a study funded by the Esme fairbairn charitable trust. Glasgow centre for the child & society. University of Glasgow. Scotland, U.K. Gresham, F. M., Elliott, S. N., & Evans-Fernandez, S. E. (1993). Student self-concept scale manual. Circle Pines, MN: American Guidance Service, Inc. Harter, S. (1990). Causes, correlates and the functional role of global self-worth: A life-span perspective. In J. Kolligian & R. Sternberg (Eds.), Perceptions of competence and incompetence across the life-span (pp. 67–98). New Haven, CT: Yale University Press. Harter, S. (1999). The construction of the self: A developmental perspective. New York: Guilford. Harter, S. (2003). The development of self-representations during childhood and adolescence. In M. R. Leary and J. P. Tangney, Handbook of self and identity (pp. 610-642). New York: The Guilford Press. Jacobs J. E., Lanza, S., Osgood, D. W., Eccles, J. S., Wigfield, A. (2002). Changes in children's self-competence and values: gender and domain differences across grades one through twelve. Child Development, 73(2): 509-27. Kids Health. The story on self-esteem. Nemouros. kidshealth.org Kihlstrom, J.F. and Cantor, N. (1983) Mental representations of the self. In Berkowitz, L. (ed.), Advances in Experimental Social Psychology. Academic Press, San Diego, CA, vol. 17, pp. 1–47. Kroger, J. (2006). Identity in Early Adolescence. Chapter 2. Sage Publications, 33-58. Kvalsund, R. (2000). “The Transition from Primary to Secondary Level in Smaller and Larger Rural Schools in Norway: Comparing Differences in Context and Social Meaning”. International Journal of Educational Research, Vol. 33(4), 401-424. Leary, M. R., & Mac Donald, G. (2003). Individual differences in self-esteem: A review and theoretical integration. In M. R. Leary and J. P. Tangney, Handbook of self and identity (pp. 401-420). New York: The Guilford Press. Mann, M., Hosman, H. M. C., Schaalma, P. H. and de Vries, K. N. (2004). Self-esteem in a broad-spectrum approach for mental health promotion. Health Education Research, Theory & Practice. Vol.19 (4), 357–372. Downloaded from http://her.oxfordjournals.org Manning, A. M. (2007). Self-concept and self-esteem in Adolescents. Student Service (p. 11-15). www.uasponline.org\families\selfconcept.pdf Marcia, J. E. (1980). Ego identity development. In J. Adelson (Ed.), Handbook of adolescent psychology (pp. 159–187). New York: Wiley. Markus, H., & Nurius, P. (1986). Possible selves. American Psychologist, 41, 954–969. Marsh, H. W. (1990). Influences of internal and external frames of reference on the formation of math and English self-concepts. Journal of Educational Psychology, 82(1), 107–116. Marsh, H. W., Barnes, J. Cairns, L., & Tidman, M. (1984). Self-Description Questionnaire: Age and sex effects in the structure and level of self-concept for preadolescent children. Journal of Educational Psychology, 76, 940-956. McGee, C., Ward, R., Gibbons, J. & Harlow, A. (2004). Transition to Secondary School: A Literature Review. The University of Waikato. Hamilton. New Zealand. www.minedu.govt.nz Oyserman, D., Elmore, K., & Smith, G. (2012). Self, Self-Concept, and Identity. In Leary, R. M. & Tangney, P. J. Handbook of Self and Identity. Second Edition. Chapter 4, p. 69-104. New York: The Guilford Press. Rhodes, J., Roffman, J., Reddy, R., & Fredriksen, K. (2004). Changes in self-esteem during the middle school years: a latent growth curve study of individual and contextual influences. Journal of School Psychology 42: 243–261. Roeser, R. W., Eccles, J. S., & Sameroff, A. J. (2000). School as a context of early adolescents‟ academic and social-emotional development: A summary of research findings. The Elementary School Journal, 100(5): 443-471. Rogers, C. (1959). A Theory of Therapy, personality and Interpersonal Relationships as Developed in the Client-centered Framework. In (ed) S. Koch, Psychology: A study of Science. Vol. 3: Formulations of the Person and the Social Context. New York: McGraw Hill. http://psychology.about.com/od/profilesofmajorthinkers/p/bio_rogers.htm Serbin, A. L. & Bukowski, M. W. (2006). The Transition from Primary To Secondary Schooling: Strategies For Success In Vulnerable Populations. Final Report (FQRSC). Centre for Research in Human Development. Concordia University. _________. Self-concept. Chapter 15, f. 317. www.cengagesites.com/academic/assets/sites/pdf‎ Ssu-Kuang, Ch., Ju-Chen, j., Fang-Ming, H., & Sunny, S. J. (2013). The relationship between Academik Self-concept and Achievement: A Multicohort-Multioccasion Study. Learning and Individual Diferences. 23, 172-178. Susman, E. J., & Rogel, A. (2004). Puberty and psychological development. In R. M. Lerner & L.D. Steinberg (Eds.), Handbook of adolescent psychology (2nd ed., pp. 15–44). New York:Wiley. Sutherland, R., Yee, Ch. V., McNess, E., Harris, R. (2010). Supporting learning in the transition from primary to secondary school. Final Report, University of Bristol. Tilleczek, K. & Ferguson, B. (2007). Transitions and pathways from Elementary school to secondary school: A review of selected literature. Community Health Systems Resource Group The Hospital for Sick Children For the Ontario Ministry of Education Toronto, Canada. Nga Tonkin, S. E. & Watt, M. H. (2003). Self-concept over the transition from primary to secondary school: a case study on a program for girls. Issues in Educational Research, 13. From: http://education.curtin.edu.au/iier/iier13/tonkin.html Waterman, A. (1982). Identity development from adolescence to adulthood: An extension of theory and a review of research. Developmental Psychology, 18, 341–358. Wigfield, A. & Tonks, S. (2002). Adolescents’ Expectancies for Success and Achievement Task Values during the Middle and High School Years. In F. Pajares & T. Urdan. Achademic Motivation of Adolescence. Chapter 3. Information Age Publishing Inc. USA. P. 53-82. Wigfield, A., & Wagner, A. L. (2005). Competence and motivation during adolescence. In A. Elliott & C.Dweck (Eds.), Handbook of competence and motivation (pp. 222–239). New York: Guilford Press. Wigfield, A., Eccles, J. S., Mac Iver, D., Reuman, D. & Midgley, C. (1991). Transitions During Early Adolescence: Changes in Children’s Domain-Specific Self-perceptions and General Self-esteem Across the Transition to Junior High School. Developmental Psychology, 27(4): 552-565. Wigfield, A., Lutz, L. S. & Wagner L. A. (2005). Early Adolescents’Development Across the Middle School Years: Implications for School Counselors. Professional School Counseling, 9(2), 112-119.
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Journal Section Articles
Authors

Pranvera Kraja This is me

Publication Date September 1, 2014
Published in Issue Year 2014 Volume: 1

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APA Kraja, P. (2014). SELF-CONCEPT AND SELF-EVALUATION IN THE TRANSITION FROM PRIMARY TO LOWER SECONDARY EDUCATION. The Eurasia Proceedings of Educational and Social Sciences, 1, 420-426.