Differences in academic attributions in language in base of the positive affect

Abstract

The goal of this study was to know if Spanish children with high scores in positive affect (PA) had statistically significant differences with the students with low scores in PA in the six dimensions that formed the language area of the academic attributions (Success: ability, effort and external causes; Failure: ability, effort and external causes). The sample was formed by 862 students, between 8 and 11 years old. The language subscale of the Sydney Attribution Scale (SAS) and the positive affect subscale of the short version of the Positive And Negative Affect Schedule for Children (PANAS-C) were used. The Student T-test showed that participants with high levels of PA significantly had higher means in language attributions to success and failure due to external causes. On the other hand, students with low scores in PA significantly obtained higher means in language attributions to failure due to ability and effort. These results widen the previous existing literature and give the opportunity to make bigger the field of affect and academic attributions.

Keywords

• afecto positivo
• atribuciones académicas
• lenguaje
• educación primaria
• panas