Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Graduate
Project Type
individual
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Sophie Chanoux, Graduate Student
Lead Presenter's Name
Sophie Chanoux
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Aviation
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Jennifer Thropp
Abstract
There are many factors that can affect international students’ success in flight training. Motivation, confidence, and internal achievement factors such as locus of control (LOC) and self-efficacy are important in successful learning. Moving to a new country, where language and customs may be quite different from one’s own, may adversely affect one’s confidence. A feeling of belongingness might affect students’ confidence, therefore affecting flight training performance. Belongingness can be measured by social and academic club membership, engagement in social activities, confidence in English, etc. This study explored the relationship between self-reports of social activities and confidence with academic performance and flight performance. Nineteen international students (13m, 6f) with a mean Age of 21.42 (SD = 2.29), currently enrolled in a flight training program at an aeronautical university answered an online survey. To participate students must have earned their private pilot’s license, but not obtained any higher certification. Students who participated were from North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Significant correlations were found between LOC and confidence in the English language; self-efficacy and number of failures at the end of the Private Pilot course; confidence in the English language and social involvement; and flight training confidence and social involvement. Males reported significantly higher levels of flight training confidence than females. A regression model showed that flight training confidence can be significantly predicted by students’ self-assessed sense of belonging, academic confidence, and LOC. Knowing the characteristics that motivate international students may have positive outcomes of successful flight training performance.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
Yes, Spark Grant
International Students Sense of Belongingness and Motivation on Academic and Flight Performance
There are many factors that can affect international students’ success in flight training. Motivation, confidence, and internal achievement factors such as locus of control (LOC) and self-efficacy are important in successful learning. Moving to a new country, where language and customs may be quite different from one’s own, may adversely affect one’s confidence. A feeling of belongingness might affect students’ confidence, therefore affecting flight training performance. Belongingness can be measured by social and academic club membership, engagement in social activities, confidence in English, etc. This study explored the relationship between self-reports of social activities and confidence with academic performance and flight performance. Nineteen international students (13m, 6f) with a mean Age of 21.42 (SD = 2.29), currently enrolled in a flight training program at an aeronautical university answered an online survey. To participate students must have earned their private pilot’s license, but not obtained any higher certification. Students who participated were from North America, South America, Europe, Africa, and Asia. Significant correlations were found between LOC and confidence in the English language; self-efficacy and number of failures at the end of the Private Pilot course; confidence in the English language and social involvement; and flight training confidence and social involvement. Males reported significantly higher levels of flight training confidence than females. A regression model showed that flight training confidence can be significantly predicted by students’ self-assessed sense of belonging, academic confidence, and LOC. Knowing the characteristics that motivate international students may have positive outcomes of successful flight training performance.