Document Type : Research Paper
Authors
1 Family Counseling, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Tehran, Iran
2 Assistant Professor, Counseling Department, Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Allameh Tabatabaei University, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
This study aimed to identify the contexts, strategies, and outcomes of academic achievement among high-achieving adolescents in the socio-cultural context of Iran. The research employed a qualitative method based on thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2006). The study population included 21 male and female adolescents with an average grade above 19 in the 2024 national final examinations in Qazvin, who were purposefully selected and interviewed through semi-structured interviews. Data analysis led to the extraction of three main themes: psychological competencies, family virtues, and school-based facilitators. The findings revealed that academic achievement is not merely the result of cognitive abilities, but is shaped through the interaction of individual, familial, and educational factors. High-achieving adolescents employed strategies such as academic self-awareness, active and effective learning, academic self-management, and emotional regulation, which resulted in multidimensional outcomes at the individual level (self-confidence, resilience, sustained motivation), family level (increased parental trust, family cohesion), socio-cultural level (enhanced civic participation, prevention of social harms), and economic level (greater job opportunities, entrepreneurial growth). The results indicate that academic achievement is a dynamic and multilayered process that cannot be reduced to quantitative outcomes; rather, it is realized in the complex interplay of personal meanings, social expectations, and environmental supports. Accordingly, simultaneous attention to psychological, familial, and school-related dimensions provides a more comprehensive perspective for educational policymakers
Keywords
- Academic Achievement
- High-achieving Adolescents
- Psychological Competencies
- Family Virtues
- Thematic Analysis
Main Subjects
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