| The purpose of this study was to investigate whether or not differences exist between African-American male and African-American female middle and high school students in attitude toward school and learning based on gender, age and grade level. This concept of attitude toward school was further clarified using the four factors of Tenenbaum's Theory of Attitude (Tenenbaum, 1944, 1964). These factors (attitude toward schoolwork, attitude toward teachers, general attitude toward school, and a global attitude toward school) when used to determine whether a student is performing well academically or not, may offer some explanation for the existence of the achievement gap between middle school and high school males and females.;A total of 380 students at the middle school level and high school level were participants for the study (Female = 184, Male = 196). A 60-item survey was administered to the participants. The research findings showed that the level of attitude toward school for a student was among the predominant influences on student achievement, particularly for determining differences in attitude between male and female middle and high school students. It was the researcher's position that the four factors have a causal connection to gender, age, and grade level.;The research questions and the hypotheses proposed by this investigation tested the null hypotheses for attitude toward school (schoolwork, teachers, general attitude toward school, and global attitude toward school) based on gender, age and grade level. The survey results obtained from the sample (African-American middle school and high school students) did support the research literature that indicates that there is a difference in attitude between males and females based on age and grade level.;This research also examined the possibility of interaction between gender and age concerning attitude toward school (attitude toward schoolwork, attitude toward teachers, general attitude toward school, and global attitude toward school). There was also an examination of the possibility of interaction between gender and grade level concerning attitude toward school (attitude toward schoolwork, attitude toward teachers, general attitude toward school, and global attitude toward school) as well. As a result, it was determined that a significant interaction occurred between the independent variables (gender and age, and gender and grade level). |
