The Whole Truth and Nothing But The Truth?

Abstract

In a study designed to examine the relationship between acculturation and achievement scores of African American college students ( N = 170), an unexpected phenomenon emerged. Twenty percent of the sample provided false information on the release of information forms (e.g., false names and false identification numbers), blocking access to their SAT scores and educational records. We labeled this unexpected phenomenon False Information Behavior (FIB). The FIB group reported higher SAT scores, included significantly more men than women, and differed significantly by major ( p = .034), with more majors in business (46%). FIB and its implications are discussed in relation to its historical and social antecedents from achievement and intelligence research fraught with negative portrayals of African Americans.

Factors Influencing Academic Success Among African American College Women: The Impact of African American Acculturation and Religiosity

“…Hayes (2009) hypothesized that students who are more acculturated will have more academic success and report better academic adjustment; however, the study did not find a statistically significant relationship between acculturation and successful social and academic adjustment. Another study by Green, Bischoff, Coleman, Sperry, and Robinson-Zañartu (2007) further concluded no significant relationship between acculturation and achievement levels. Rust (2008) also found that acculturation was not significantly or positively correlated with academic achievement, when studying a sample of African American high school students.…”