The Effects of Psychocultural Variables on the Academic Performance of African-American Students: A Literature Review

Abstract

This article discusses the various cultural, socioeconomic and psychological variables that contribute to the academic performance of African American students. While it may be concluded that many factors such as race, economics and home environment influence the school performance of African-American students, culture has the greatest impact on learning. It is the cultural incompatibility between African-American students and an educational system based on traditional American values that accounts most for their poor school performance. Interventions that involve schools accommodating the African American cultural style with culturally sensitive instructional practices are reviewed. School psychologists play an essential role in assisting school personnel in the implementation of these interventions befitting the African American cultural style.