RELATIONSHIPS AMONG MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS’ MUSICAL POSSIBLE SELF BELIEFS AND THEIR MUSIC PARTICIPATION
Open Access
- Author:
- Campbell, Debra Lynn
- Graduate Program:
- Music Education
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- October 13, 2008
- Committee Members:
- Joanne Rutkowski, Dissertation Advisor/Co-Advisor
Joanne Rutkowski, Committee Chair/Co-Chair
Anthony Thomas Leach, Committee Member
Keith P Thompson, Committee Member
Rayne Audrey Sperling, Committee Member
Linda Carol Porter Thornton, Committee Member - Keywords:
- participation
education
music
motivation
self-concept - Abstract:
- ABSTRACT: Relationships Among Middle School Students’ Musical Possible Self Beliefs and Their Participation in School Musical Activities Adolescence is a time when many students elect to withdraw from musical organizations. Perhaps these youth do not see themselves playing an instrument or singing as an adult. “Possible selves” is introduced to elucidate students’ ideas of “what they might become, what they would like to become, and what they are afraid of becoming” (Markus & Nurius, 1986, p. 954). These self-perceptions provide a conceptual link between cognition and motivation. The purpose of this study was to examine the role of possible selves in the motivation of middle school students’ participation in music endeavors. The primary research question was: What is the nature of the relationships among middle school students’ music engagement and their music possible self perceptions? The research question was further analyzed by current and future possible self perceptions and music participation. Eighth grade general music students (n = 199) completed a questionnaire based on current and future music possible self perceptions as well as their current music participation. Students who had a strong music possible self were more likely to envision positive musical futures than students who had lower possible self perceptions. Significant differences existed between girls and boys. Girls were more likely to participate in singing activities and had stronger music possible selves than boys. Encouraging youth to see themselves as musicians in the future may result in their continued participation in musical organizations during adolescence.