sample 2 of introduction of the rp- (optimism & academic achievement)

8/12/2019 Sample 2 of Introduction of the RP- (Optimism & Academic Achievement)

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Acknowledgement:Siti Farhah Fazira Binti Shamsudin (1016598)

TEASL

Institute of Education (INSTEAD)

International Islamic University Malaysia

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A Study on the Relationship between Optimism and Academic Achievement among

TEASL Students of IIUM

Success has been a dream for every people in this world in every field. There are many

important elements of success and IQ has been viewed as the primary determinant of success.

Another important element of success that emerges is emotional intelligence. It is being assumed

that in order to be successful, people not only need to have high IQs, but also need to be

emotionally intelligent.

One of the emotional intelligence aspects is optimism. Optimism is a trait that helps

individuals to be resilient and successful, even when faced with adversity (Merrell, 2008, p.

135). In other words, optimism is the habit of viewing things from a positive perspective even

when dealing with a lot of problems. On the other hand, academic achievement is defined as the

performance accomplished in learning. In a study conducted by Golman (1995), 20% of

individuals success in the future is predicted with cognitive intelligent and 80% of it depends on

their emotional intelligence.

One theory that prompted the research on how optimism is necessary for a good

academic achievement is the learned optimism theory. Seligman (1998) arguedin this cognitive

theory that optimism leads to the success of many elements in life including school as well as

career. Being optimistic helps students to overcome depression which at the same time extract

positive energy during learning process. Higher levels of optimism have been related

prospectively to better subjective well-being and low levels of stress in times of adversity or

difficulty and the perception of students towards success and failure especially in academics and


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life in general, play a critical role in students attitude and behavior. However, the level of

optimism among students may vary across gender, educational and demographic background and

social status. It may lead one to be more confident than others.

Several literatures have been reviewed on the overall relationship between optimism,

gender and students academic achievement.In terms of the relationship between optimism and

academic achievement, researchers revealed that there is a significantly positive relationship

between these two variables among US university students and Medical and Engineering

students (Medlin, Faulk (n.d.); Singh, Jha (2013). Another study by Hoy, Tarter and Hoy (2006)

that used a large scale-sample consisted of 96 high schools in a mid-western state claimedthat

academic optimism made a significant contribution to students achievement.

On the other hand, McKinnon (2012) and Schumacher (2006) in their studies

demonstrated no significant relationship between optimism and academic achievement among

Georgian middle school students and senior secondary high school students. Furthermore,

McCulloch (n.d.) in a study using first and second year University of British Columbia

Okanagan students also found out that there is no significant relationship between these two

variables.

In terms of gender and optimism, Pritchett (2007) arguedthat females in general

are more optimistic than males (p.20). In addition, Yates (2002) also mentionedthat girls were

more optimistic than the boys at the primary school level. However, an article by Newman

(2009) reported that a research done by a group of team at the University of Wales Institute,


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achievement and the decreasing number of males pursuing education at the tertiary level

compared to females.

Despitenumerous studies reported on the relationship between optimism and students

academic achievement in schools, studies done on the relationship between optimism and

academic achievement among university students are still limited.

Therefore, the general intentof this study wasto investigate the relationship between

optimism and academic achievementamong TEASL students of IIUM.

The questions that the researcher seeks to answer are as follows:

1. Isthere any difference in the study of TEASL students optimism level between males andfemales?

2. Isthere any difference in the study of TEASL students CGPA scoresbetween males andfemales?

3. Isthere a correlation between optimism scores and students CGPA?

sample 2 of introduction of the rp- (optimism & academic achievement)

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