Aboriginal education and the importance of self-concept research

This research project aimed to elucidate New South Wales Aboriginal Education Consultative Group's (AECG) members' perspectives of: (a) the importance of undertaking self-concept research to address Aboriginal education issues from an AECG perspective; (b) the potential influence of self-concept on other desirable educational outcomes valued by Aboriginal community members; (c) strategies that help/hinder the enhancement of Aboriginal students self-concepts in schools; (d) some areas of Aboriginal students' self-concept that are valued by Aboriginal community members; and (e) some strategic research directions in relation to self-concept research. Focus group discussions were held with 18 AECG regional representatives and 20 members of the AECG. Individual follow-up interviews were conducted with 11 AECG regional representatives deriving from 7 AECG regions and the State Secretariat. Focus group discussions and individual interviews were transcribed and content analysis undertaken by two coders to identify key themes and narratives illustrative of these themes. Results were scrutinised by the State Executive of the AECG who served as experts in checking the results. The results of this study offered insights on strategic directions for future research and strategies to enhance current educational practice. The results demonstrated that AECG members view the attainment of a positive self- concept as a vital goal and outcome of schooling. Self-concept research was also perceived as critically important for addressing the enduring educational and economic disadvantage Aboriginal students experience, as a good self-concept was perceived by AECG members to be an important goal in itself and to have a causal influence on other desirable educational outcomes valued by Aboriginal community members. AECG members also identified a number of strategies that could enhance and hinder the development of Aboriginal students' self-concepts in the schooling context along with some key facets of self-concept valued by Aboriginal community members. In particular AECG members emphasised a wealth of strategic research directions that attested to the significance and viability if a concerted self-concept Aboriginal education research program.