Abstract

Summary A total of 499 youngsters in grades 3 through 12 were tested with three widely used affective instruments which measure self-esteem, locus of control, and achievement motivation. Sex and age effects in affect were assessed; intercorrelations between the measures used were also examined. In addition, a series of stepwise regression analyses were employed in an effort to examine the relationship between affect and academic performance for the elementary, middle school, and high school males and females. Results of the study revealed that females were more internally controlled and higher in achievement motivation than males. Contrary to our expectation, early adolescence does not appear to be an especially dramatic time affectively for youngsters.