TY - JOUR
T1 - Asian-American educational achievements
T2 - A Phenomenon in search of an explanation
AU - Sue, Stanley
AU - Okazaki, Sumie
N1 - Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 1990
Y1 - 1990
N2 - Considerable attention has been paid to the academic achievements of Asian Americans because there is convergent evidence that this population has attained high educational mobility. In trying to explain the achievement patterns, researchers have largely limited their investigations to one of two contrasting hypotheses involving (a) hereditary differences in intelligence between Asians and Whites and (b) Asian cultural values that promote educational endeavors. Research findings have cast serious doubt over the validity of the genetic hypothesis. Yet, there has been a failure to find strong empirical support for alternative hypothesis concerning cultural values. It is proposed, under the concept of relative functionalism, that Asian Americans perceive, and have experienced, restrictions in upward mobility in careers or jobs that are unrelated to education. Consequently, education assumes importance, above and beyond what can be predicted from cultural values. Research and policy implications of this view are noted.
AB - Considerable attention has been paid to the academic achievements of Asian Americans because there is convergent evidence that this population has attained high educational mobility. In trying to explain the achievement patterns, researchers have largely limited their investigations to one of two contrasting hypotheses involving (a) hereditary differences in intelligence between Asians and Whites and (b) Asian cultural values that promote educational endeavors. Research findings have cast serious doubt over the validity of the genetic hypothesis. Yet, there has been a failure to find strong empirical support for alternative hypothesis concerning cultural values. It is proposed, under the concept of relative functionalism, that Asian Americans perceive, and have experienced, restrictions in upward mobility in careers or jobs that are unrelated to education. Consequently, education assumes importance, above and beyond what can be predicted from cultural values. Research and policy implications of this view are noted.
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U2 - 10.1037/0003-066X.45.8.913
DO - 10.1037/0003-066X.45.8.913
M3 - Article
C2 - 2221563
AN - SCOPUS:0025468724
SN - 0003-066X
VL - 45
SP - 913
EP - 920
JO - American Psychologist
JF - American Psychologist
IS - 8
ER -