Identifying High-Achieving Students: A Comparison of Two Approaches

• In Event: Marriott Roundtable Session 16
  In Roundtable Session: Motivation and Achievement

Abstract

The use of a society’s full potential serves the individual person as well as the public good. Research literature on high‐achieving students uses various identification approaches. The present study compares a theoretical cut‐off approach with a data‐driven approach with regard to different subgroups of high‐achieving students and how they can be characterized.
Data from N = 1580 students was investigated. Three achievement indicators were used to define the subgroups. Background information and motivational‐affective characteristics were used for further characterization. The subgroups differ in their achievement as well as in their background variables and motivational‐affective characteristics. The Top Performer and the Overachiever subgroup show manifestations that are more positive in nearly all investigated variables compared to the Underachiever subgroup.

Authors

• Lisa Ziernwald, Technical University of Munich

• Anja Schiepe-Tiska, Technische Universität München

• Sarah Isabelle Hofer, University of Munich

• Kristina Maria Reiss, Technische Universitaet Munich