TY - JOUR
T1 - The relationship between psychology students' levels of perfectionism and achievement in a graduate-level research methodology course
AU - Witcher, Lisa A.
AU - Alexander, Elizabeth S.
AU - Onwuegbuzie, Anthony J.
AU - Collins, Kathleen M.T.
AU - Witcher, Ann E.
PY - 2007/10
Y1 - 2007/10
N2 - This study investigated the relationship between three dimensions of perfectionism (i.e., self-oriented perfectionism, other-oriented perfectionism, and socially prescribed perfectionism) and achievement in a graduate-level research methodology course among 130 psychology students. Achievement, which involved students' knowledge of research concepts, methodologies, and applications, was measured individually in all sections via comprehensive written midterm and final examinations. A canonical correlation analysis revealed that graduate students with relatively high levels of self-oriented perfectionism and other-oriented perfectionism tended to have the highest levels of achievement in the class, with socially prescribed perfectionism serving as a suppressor variable. Self-oriented perfectionism was the best predictor of performance, highlighting the relative importance of this dimension of perfectionism in the context of learning in research methodology courses. Implications are discussed.
AB - This study investigated the relationship between three dimensions of perfectionism (i.e., self-oriented perfectionism, other-oriented perfectionism, and socially prescribed perfectionism) and achievement in a graduate-level research methodology course among 130 psychology students. Achievement, which involved students' knowledge of research concepts, methodologies, and applications, was measured individually in all sections via comprehensive written midterm and final examinations. A canonical correlation analysis revealed that graduate students with relatively high levels of self-oriented perfectionism and other-oriented perfectionism tended to have the highest levels of achievement in the class, with socially prescribed perfectionism serving as a suppressor variable. Self-oriented perfectionism was the best predictor of performance, highlighting the relative importance of this dimension of perfectionism in the context of learning in research methodology courses. Implications are discussed.
KW - Achievement
KW - Graduate students
KW - Perfectionism
KW - Research methodology
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34547160210&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.paid.2007.04.016
DO - 10.1016/j.paid.2007.04.016
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:34547160210
SN - 0191-8869
VL - 43
SP - 1396
EP - 1405
JO - Personality and Individual Differences
JF - Personality and Individual Differences
IS - 6
ER -