Bennett, S. (2003) Cultural identity and academic achievement among Māori undergraduate university students. In Nikora, L.W., Levy, M., Masters, B., Waitoki, W., Te Awekotuku, N., & Etheredge, R.J.M. (Eds). (2003). The Proceedings of the National Māori Graduates of Psychology Symposium 2002: Making a difference. Proceedings of a symposium hosted by the Māori & Psychology Research Unit at the University of Waikato, Hamilton, 29-30 November 2002 (pp.57-63). Hamilton, New Zealand: Māori and Psychology Research Unit, University of Waikato.
Abstract
Cultural identity and academic achievement were investigated among a nonrandom
sample of 72 undergraduate Māori university students studying at Massey
University. Student problems were examined to identify the types of difficulties
most prevalent among this population. The degree to which cultural identity
moderates the relationship between student problems and academic achievement
was then examined. Major findings were that (a) there is a consistent negative
relationship between student problems and academic achievement; and (b) cultural
identity moderates the effect of student problems on academic achievement, in that:
a high degree of problems were associated with decreases in grade point average
among respondents with low cultural identity; while among respondents with high
cultural identity, high levels of student problems had little negative effect on grade
point average. Despite the study having limitations, the findings have important
implications for Māori students, deliverers of tertiary education, tertiary education
providers, and those involved in the development and implementation of tertiary
education policy.
Publisher
Maori and Psychology Research Unit, University of Waikato
