Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

This study examined the potential influence of cultural variables (racial centrality, public racial regard, private racial regard, and perceived racial representation) on the academic self-concept of African American college students. A total of 107 African American and Black college students participated in this study. Participants were recruited from a predominantly White institution in the southeastern United States, as well as through the Prolific online research database. Participants completed an online questionnaire that assessed participant demographics, aspects of racial identity via the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity, perceived racial representation on college campuses, and academic self-concept. Results did not support the hypothesized relationships between these variables, including neither of the cultural variables being significantly correlated with academic self-concept, and neither of the variables being able to predict academic self-concept. The results did not support the hypothesis of racial centrality being able to moderate the relationship between perceived racial representation and academic self-concept among African American college students. The findings in the present study highlight the importance of expanding the understanding of several factors that influence African American college student academic self-concept. Implications for further investigation of these variables are discussed.

Date

29-5-2026

DOI

https://proquest.com/docview/3346768455

First Committee Chair

David Perkins

First Committee Member

Erika Caramillo

Second Committee Member

Manyu Li

Third Committee Member

Theresa Wozencraft

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