Causal attribution patterns and future time perspective a comparison of technical sector and pre-university college students

Abstract

Two motivational models that are particularly important at the developmental stage of young CEGEP students formed the conceptual framework for this study, Attribution Theory and Future Time Perspective. The various properties or dimensions that characterize these models and their relationship to the dynamics of a learner's actions in achievement related situations were discussed in detail. Persistence to complete a program of studies, is affected by these two models and in this study is linked to graduating"on-time." It was therefore hypothesized that (a) technical sector students would view outcomes of success as internal, stable and controllable features, less often than students in the pre-university sector and that, (b) these students would also view outcomes of failure in terms of internal, stable and uncontrollable characteristics more so than students enrolled in the pre-university sector. In addition, the future time perspective construct would suggest that (c) students enrolled in the technical sector have shorter FTP (i.e. the future would be looked at as a close future) than students in the pre-university sector."--Résumé abrégé par UMI.