Abstract
Student attitudes toward psychology were assessed periodically during several psychology courses. Independent variables studied were whether subject matter was Science-oriented or Life-oriented, whether the course itself or topics were rated, sex of students, and two personality measures derived from the California Psychological Inventory-Achievement-Orientation (AO) and Social-Orientation (SO).
Life-oriented content consistently produced higher ratings of courses and subject matter than did Science-oriented content. Females rated Life-oriented topics higher than males, and males rated Science-oriented topics higher than females. Nevertheless, males rated the course as more valuable than females during the Life-oriented portions of the course, and females rated the course higher than males during the Science-oriented parts of the course. Inconsistent relationships were found between the personality measures and other variables.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
ANASTASI, A. 1958. Differential psychology (ed. 3). New York: Macmillan.
BEARDSLEE, D. C. & O’DOWD, D. D. 1961. The college student image of the scientist. Science, 133, 997–1001.
CARNEY, R. E. In press. The effect of situational variables on the measurement of achievement motivation. Educational and Psychological Measurement.
CARNEY, R. E. 1963. Achievement motivation anxiety, and perceptual control. Perceptual Motor Skills, 17, 287–292.
CARNEY, R. E. 1961. An analysis of university student behaviors with measures of ability, attitude, performance and personality. Doctoral dissertation, University of Michigan, Published No. 61–6325, Ann Arbor: University Microfilms.
CARNEY, R. E. & McKEACHIE, W. J. 1963. Religion, sex, social class, probability of success, and student personality. Journal of Scientific Studies of Religion, 3, 32–42.
EDWARDS, A. L. 1960. Experimental design in psychological research. New York: Rinehart.
EDWARDS, A. L. 1958. Statistical analysis. (Revised ed.) New York: Rinehart.
FUCHS, A. H., KLARE, G. R., & PULLEN, M. S. 1957. Student reactions to topics in general psychology. American Psychologist, 12, 219–221.
GOUGH, H. P. 1957. California psychological inventory manual. Palo Alto: Consulting Psychologist Press.
LANDFIELD, A. W. 1954. Research avoidance in clinical students. American Psychologist, 9, 240–242.
McKEACHIE, W. J. 1961. Motivation, teaching methods, and college learning. In Jones, M. R. (Ed.) Nebraska Symposium on motivation, 1961. Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press.
MORGAN, C. T. 1956. Introduction to psychology. New York: McGraw-Hill.
NICHOLS, R. C. 1964. Career decisions of very able students. Science, 144, 1315–1318.
SEABORG, G. T. 1962. A scientific society-the beginning. Science, 135, 505–509.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Formerly at Drake University and Indiana University. Data were collected at the University of Michigan and at Drake University. The Michigan data were collected as part of a larger project sponsored by the U. S. Office of Education, Contract No. SAE-8451 to W. J. McKeachie, J. E. Mifholland, and R. L. Isaacson.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Carney, R.E., McKeachie, W.J. Personality, Sex, Subject Matter and Student Ratings. Psychol Rec 16, 137–144 (1966). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03393652
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03393652