Self-esteem : junior Lyceum examination

Abstract

This study investigates change in self-esteem before the Junior Lyceum examination and after the issuing of the results. A case study was conducted in a State Primary school. It focused on one mid-stream Year 6 class. Interviews were conducted with parents and pupils in order to gain insight into what influences changes, if any, in self-esteem. The revised version of the Coopersnlith Self-Esteem Inventory (1967) was used to measure self-esteem before and after the Junior Lyceum examination. Classroon1 observations were also conducted so as to understand individual pupils and their attitude towards the school. This research has found that change in self-esteem is associated with the teacher, parental attitudes and practices, peers and friendships. It was also found that examination results in turn, have a bearing on pupils' self-esteem.