The main of objective this study is to examine the role of positive psychological capital on students’ academic performance at Tumaini University Dar es Salaam College (TUDARCo).
Higher education students’ academic performance, well-being and positive development are one among the least studied subjects in Sub-Saharan Africa, in-spite of the fact that Sub-Saharan Africa is with the largest youth population internationally. And having several challenges in youth positive development, unlike the western, though not majoring in youth population yet they accounted for most youth development studies.
According to Kapinga & Amani (2015), who investigated the determinants of academic performance among undergraduate students at Mkwawa University College of Education in Tanzania, they concluded that academic performance in higher learning institutions is partly determined by how well students achieve at pre-university level, personal determination and social-economic factors, these findings were similar to a study conducted by Zaituni Shabani back in 2013 at Aridhi University, who also concluded pre-university scores and some socio-economic factors to be major determinants for students academic performance for higher education in Tanzania.
However, there is a very little attention if not non that is being placed on positive psychology being a factor contributing to higher students’ academic performance in Tanzania, most researched factors and those that are generally perceived by the public range from gender, learning resources, learning environments, social and economic challenges and previous academic achievements.
Table of Contents
1.0 Chapter Overview
1.1 Study Background
1.2 Statement of the Problem
1.3 Research Objectives
1.3.1 General Objectives
1.3.2 Specific Objectives
1.4 Research Questions
1.4.1 General Research Question
1.4.2 Specific Research Question
1.5 Relevance of the study
1.7 Organization of the research proposal
1.8 Chapter Summary
2.0 Chapter Overview
2.1 Definitions of Key Concepts
2.1.1 Psychological Capital
2.1.2 University Academic Performance
2.2 Theoretical Review
2.2.1 Evolution of Positive Psychological Capital
2.2.2 Dimensions of Positive Psychological Capital
2.3 Empirical Review
2.4 Research Gap
2.5 Conceptual Framework
2.6 Statement of Hypothesis
2.7 Chapter Summary
3.0 Chapter Overview
3.1 Research Design & Strategy
3.2 Research Philosophy
3.3 Population of the Study
3.4 Sample Size
3.5 Sampling Procedures/Strategies
3.6 Instrumentation, variables and measurements
3.7 Data Collection Methods
3.8 Data Analysis methods
3.8.1 Validity and Reliability
3.8.2 Data Cleaning Process
3.9 Ethic Consideration
3.10 Limitation and Areas for Further Studies
3.11 Chapter Summary
Research Objectives & Themes
The primary objective of this research is to examine the influence of positive psychological capital on the academic performance of students at Tumaini University Dar es Salaam College (TUDARCo) and to determine if a positive association exists between these constructs.
- Psychological Capital (PsyCap) and its four core dimensions (Hope, Efficacy, Resilience, Optimism).
- The impact of positive psychological resources on academic performance in higher education.
- Application of the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory in an academic context.
- Investigation of current research gaps regarding student performance in Tanzania.
Excerpt from the Book
1.1 Study Background
Recently, countless research studies have shown that there is a strong link between positive psychology and individual’s performance, and this has given birth to a very new and peculiar way of understanding human capital in human resource management. This new understanding concerning human resource’s untapped value was termed Positive Psychological Capital.
Having migrated from traditional understanding of capital, most work organizations had began accepting the concept of people as capital being one of the key sources of competitive advantage, Human capital aggregated practical skills, work experience and theoretical knowledge into one resource that has the potential to lead a firm into competitiveness. In addition to Human capital come another concept of Social capital which emphasized on the “social” nature of human resources, acknowledging it as a separate capital that can lead an organization toward performance competitiveness. The concept of Social capital suggests that an individual’s ability to relate effectively with others and the network of relationships that one possesses are key determinants of an individual’s effectiveness in work settings, that if someone relates better then has a good chance of performing better.
The Idea of Positive psychological capital began with ideas of positive organizational behavior of Martin Seligman and his associates, who thought that organizational behavior had placed a greater attention toward that which is wrong with people and trying to fix it, and not enough attention toward that which is right about people and try nourishing it (Luthans et al, 2012). But the term Positive psychological capital itself was first coined by Fred Luthans who explained it as a caravan of four positive state-like resources inside people that can be developed and managed toward performance excellence and organizational competitiveness (Luthans et al, 2018), and vast research studies have conclusively supported the same idea.
Summary of Chapters
CHAPTER ONE | INTRODUCTION: This chapter provides the foundation for the research by introducing the study background, problem statement, research objectives, and the significance of exploring PsyCap in a Tanzanian academic setting.
CHAPTER TWO | LITERATURE REVIEW: This chapter reviews theoretical perspectives, specifically the Conservation of Resources (COR) theory, and empirical literature establishing the positive relationship between psychological capital and student academic performance.
CHAPTER THREE | RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: This chapter details the systematic procedures, research design, sample selection, and data analysis methods intended to investigate the variables within the study.
Keywords
Psychological Capital, PsyCap, Academic Performance, Hope, Efficacy, Resilience, Optimism, Conservation of Resources, COR Theory, Higher Education, Student Performance, Quantitative Analysis, TUDARCo, Positive Psychology, Tanzania.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The research focuses on investigating the role that positive psychological capital (PsyCap) plays in the academic performance of university students at Tumaini University Dar es Salaam College.
What are the central thematic areas?
The work revolves around the four dimensions of PsyCap: Hope, Efficacy, Resilience, and Optimism, and how these personal resources relate to academic outcomes in an educational environment.
What is the primary objective of the study?
The main objective is to examine whether positive psychological capital is positively associated with and contributes to the academic performance of students.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The study employs a descriptive research design combined with a cross-sectional survey strategy, using quantitative analysis and structured questionnaires to collect and interpret data.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The work covers a literature review detailing relevant theories like the COR theory and empirical studies from various regions, followed by a rigorous methodology section outlining data collection and analysis.
What are the key descriptive characteristics of this work?
The work is characterized by its focus on Positive Organization Behavior (POB) adapted for an academic context, specifically emphasizing state-like psychological resources rather than fixed personality traits.
How is academic performance defined in this study?
In this study, academic performance is defined and measured through the students' Grade Point Average (GPA), which represents their level of achievement within the university system.
Why is this research particularly relevant for Tanzania?
This research addresses a specific research gap, as there is a documented paucity of studies linking positive psychological capital to student performance in the Tanzanian higher education context.
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- Alex Mbegu (Autor:in), 2020, The Effects of University Students’ Psychological Capital on Academic Performance, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1677072
