When Perception Becomes Reality: The perception of barriers prevents Mexican-American students from achieving their ultimate educational goals, according to a new study by researchers at the University of Missouri.
“The data tells us this group is at risk of not fulfi lling their dreams,” said co-author Dr. Lisa Flores, associate professor of educational, school and counseling psychology at the University of Missouri’s College of Education. “Mexican-American students have high aspirations in terms of educational goals. But what they actually achieve, and expect to achieve, is lower than what they aspire to.”
Flores surveyed 186 Mexican-American high school students with an average age of 16.14 years in a Texas-Mexico border town. Flores says she believes her study is the first to fi nd a direct link between perception and results. Perceived barriers include lack of support among family and community to continue education, family responsibilities and fi nances.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 57 percent of Mexican-American students graduate from high school. Only 11 percent receive college degrees.
