Investigating the effects of the differences between expected and actual grades on the mental health of grade XII students in Gilgit-Baltistan
Date of Award
10-31-2022
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Master of Education (M. Ed.)
First Supervisor/Advisor
Drs Takbir Ali and Farid Panjwani
Department
Institute for Educational Development, Karachi
Abstract
Academic success and good grades are among the goals of all students. However, secondary, and higher secondary school students are more likely to achieve good grades, providing them with a strong foundation for a promising future career, and have been associated with various aspects (wellbeing, stress, depression, and anxiety) of mental health status. The purpose of this study was to investigate the differences between expected and actual grades of Grade 12 students in high stakes board exams and their effects on the mental health of students. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Gilgit-Baltistan with a sample of 374 students from private higher secondary schools and public colleges. One-way ANOVA and Kruskal-Wallis tests were employed to analyze the difference between expected and actual grade effects on the mental health of students. T-tests and Mann-Whitney tests were used to compare male and female students' mental health. According to the findings, there is a significant impact on students' mental health when there are differences between expected and actual grades. As evidenced by their extremely high scores for mental wellbeing and extremely low scores for stress, depression, and anxiety, students who achieved grades above expectations and who met their expectations showed better mental health. Whereas students who achieved grades below expectations were completely the opposite. Further, in the case of gender, male and female students who achieved grades above expectations and students who achieved expected grades demonstrated better mental health as compared to male and female students who achieved grades below expectations, as they demonstrated poor wellbeing, high stress, depression, and anxiety. Female students exhibited poorer well-being, stress, anxiety, and depression as compared to male students upon achieving grades below expectations. The present study recommends that institution should bring changes classroom assessment techniques and teachers should avoid ranking students on basis of grades because hinder intrinsic motivation for learning and promote extrinsic motivation, besides this parent should be educated about mental health issues and parents should hold realistic expectations from their children.
Recommended Citation
Kamil, M. (2022). Investigating the effects of the differences between expected and actual grades on the mental health of grade XII students in Gilgit-Baltistan [M. Ed. Dissertation]. Aga Khan University.