The relationship between children's understanding of musical ability and their motivation, perceived ability and achievement in general music class
Ritcher, Gary Kipp
This item is only available for download by members of the University of Illinois community. Students, faculty, and staff at the U of I may log in with your NetID and password to view the item. If you are trying to access an Illinois-restricted dissertation or thesis, you can request a copy through your library's Inter-Library Loan office or purchase a copy directly from ProQuest.
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/20796
Description
Title
The relationship between children's understanding of musical ability and their motivation, perceived ability and achievement in general music class
Author(s)
Ritcher, Gary Kipp
Issue Date
1989
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
Colwell, Richard J.
Department of Study
Music
Discipline
Music Education
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ed.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Education, Music
Language
eng
Abstract
Children's understanding of ability and its relationship to effort was examined, and characteristics believed to be related to the level of their understanding were described. Two stratified random samples were drawn from among fourth, fifth and sixth grade students at three elementary schools in a metropolitan school district. A critical exploration interview developed by Nicholls (1978) was used to classify the subjects in sample 2 (n = 36) as to the level of their reasoning about intellectual ability (immature, transitional, mature). Subjects in sample 1 (n = 108) were classified in the same manner as to the level of their reasoning about musical ability using the investigator's adaptation of Nicholls' interview.
Reasoning about musical and intellectual ability appeared similar. For subjects receiving both interviews (n = 17) level of reasoning about musical ability was significantly related to level of reasoning about intellectual ability (p $<$.05). The level of reasoning increased across grade levels for both measures. No significant gender differences were noted for either measure.
"Subjects in sample 1 also received measures of musical achievement, perceived ability and motivation. The relationship between the measures of perceived ability and motivation was stronger for mature subjects than for immature subjects. This finding is consistent with the view that perceived ability becomes more ""relevant"" to motivation as individuals attain the mature level and begin to think of ability as capacity."
Immature subjects were more positive in their attitude toward both general music and recorder playing than mature subjects, as expected, but mature subjects were rated higher in effort by their music teachers. Immature subjects were less accurate in their perceived ability than mature subjects and lower in achievement. Transitional subjects, rather than being ranked intermediate, were the least accurate group in their perceived ability and the most positive in their attitude.
Level of reasoning about musical ability contributed significantly to a multiple regression equation computed on attitude scores even when entered in the equation after grade level. Thus, the relationship between level of reasoning and attitude cannot be explained entirely in terms of simple maturation.
Use this login method if you
don't
have an
@illinois.edu
email address.
(Oops, I do have one)
IDEALS migrated to a new platform on June 23, 2022. If you created
your account prior to this date, you will have to reset your password
using the forgot-password link below.
