Achievement motivation of children in intact families, father-only families, and mother-only families

Abstract

This research attempted to study the possible relationship between achievement motivation as displayed by the child and the parental situation in the home in which the child finds himself a parts. Fifty-four children in grades nine to 12 were administered the Adjective Check List (ACL) to determine the amount of achievement motivation felt by the child. The chldren were selected through single-parent organizations and schools. Of the children in the study, 16 lived with both parents, 21 lived with the mother, and 17 lived with the father.

The subjects were compared according to the number of parents in the home; the sex of the parent in the single-parent home; the number of years spent in the single-parent home; the reason for that particular parent receiving custody; and the relationship of the sex of the parent in the single-parent home to the sex of the child. No significant relationship was found between any of these factors and the achievement motivation displayed by the subject.