Your Research Proposal is a six- to seven-page plan for a new study on your research topic. Incorporate at least four scholarly/peer-reviewed journal articles in addition to the course text to support

These apply to “typical families” and probably do not apply to “dysfunction families” and may vary across various cultures. Parents should attempt to help each child to see themselves as unique individuals and avoid comparisons with siblings or others. The middle child often seems to have the most negative impressions of his lot in life. One approach to help middle children reframe things is to point out that in a sense they have the best of both worlds. They are the youngest to the older sibling and the oldest to the younger sibling. Therefore they are both a big brother/sister and a little brother/sister. Younger children always want to be able to do the things older siblings are allowed to do. And older siblings may feel that the younger siblings get away with things they were not able to when they were the same age. The present study aims to examine the relationship between the achievement motivation and birth order.

This research attempt to determine that achievement motivation can effect among birth order. It is recognized by the result that the level of achievement motivation both variables have been effected by the birth order.

Key Words: Achievement Motivation, Birth Orders. J. Psychosoc. Res. Vol. 6 No. 2 (2011) p. 169-178 Corresponding Author Email: [email protected] 170 S. K. Srivastava J. Psychosoc. Res. INTRODUCTION Birth order has long been an important factor in certain social customs and life experiences. These include choice of professions, opportunities for reproduction, emigration decisions, inheritance practices, and rules of royal succession. Ordinal position has also played a role in some social and political transformations. Although a substantial literature has documented a wide variety of birth order effects in health, intellectual performance, and behavior, the magnitude of these effects, and the nature of the domains in which they express themselves, remain sources of scholarly contention. Within the family, the role of birth order appears to be considerable in the expression of personality, social attitudes, and family sentiments. By contrast, in non-familial contexts, these effects are more muted. Moreover, the expression of birth order effects is often dependent, outside the family milieu, on whether or not certain attitudes and sentiments about the family are tapped in ways that make them salient. The study of birth order and its correlates have been one of the early interests in Psychology. Birth order can affect many aspects of an individual’s life. It has been shown to affect things like personality (Howarth, 1982), self-esteem (Romeo, 1994) and cognitive achievement (Travis, 1995).

Many studies have been done in an attempt to determine what exactly makes people who they are. Birth order has been relevant in many research studies. Each rank, the oldest, middle, youngest, and only, generally have similar characteristics that are common in different people of the same birth order. It is logical to conclude that these similar characteristics will affect other aspects of life, namely “achievement motivation”. If the birth order factor has a major influence on an individual’s personality, and different people of the same birth order have similar personality traits, then this research attempt to determine that birth order can effect on achievement motivation in school going children.

According to Hjelle and Ziegler (1992) the theoretical discussion of the meaning and effects of birth order have been traced back 1928 by Alfred Adler who first recognized birth order as a significant factor in personality development. Adler believed that “even though children have the same parents and grow up in nearly the same family setting, they do not have identical social environments”. Adler also reported the characteristics that the various birth orders seem to share. The oldest child tends to be conservative, power oriented and predisposed towards leadership. The only child according to Adler tends to be dependent and self centered. Adler is also quoted as saying, “the only child has difficulties with every independent activity and sooner or later they become useless in life”. Further more, the middle child is usually achievement oriented, but may set unrealistic goals that will end in failure; finally the youngest tends to be highly motivated to outdo older siblings in various accomplishments. Study the Effect of Achievement Motivation among Birth Orders J. Psychosoc. Res.171 Toni Falbo (1981) observed a significant relationship between birth order and competitiveness. First and middle children scored significantly higher than last born on competitiveness. Hargrove and Falbo, (1986) explored the relationship between birth order and achievement motivation and found a significant correlation between birth order and one specific facet of achievement motivation i.e., competitiveness. It may be that the presence of competitiveness mediates the relationship between birth order and achievement.

Bogaert (2004) examined the prevalence of male homosexuality probably varies over time and across societies. One reason for this variation may be the joint effect of two factors: (1) variations in fertility rate or family size; and (2) the fraternal birth order effect, the finding that the odds of male homosexuality increases with each additional older brother. Because of these effects, the rate of male homosexuality may be relatively high (at least in terms of sexual attraction if not behavior) in societies that have a high fertility rate, but this rate has probably declined somewhat in some, particularly western, societies. Thus, even if accurately measured in one country at one time, the rate of male homosexuality is subject to change and is not generalizable over time or across societies.

Healey and Ellis (2007) investigated differences between firstborn and secondborn siblings on major dimensions of personality, in the context of the proposal of Sulloway [Sulloway, F. J. (1996). Born to rebel: Birth order, family dynamics and creative lies. New York: Pantheon] that personality is influenced by the specialized niches siblings adopt in the quest for access to parental resources.

Using a within-family methodology, we tested two predictions from Sulloway’s model: that firstborns are more achieving and conscientious than secondborns and that secondborns are more rebellious and open to new experiences than firstborns.

To test an alternative prenatal hypomasculinization theory proposed by Beer and Horn. We also examined the size of birth-order effects in sister–sister versus brother–brother pairs. The hypothesized effects of birth order on personality were found in both Study 1 (n=161 sibling pairs) and Study 2 (n=174 sibling pairs) and provided support for Sulloway’s family-niche model. No support was found for Beer and Horn’s hypomasculinization model.

Rees, Lopez, Averett and Argys (2008) investigated birth order and risky adolescent behavior. Economic Inquiry, 44(2), 215–233 demonstrated that a strong link exists between birth order and adolescent risky behavior. Using data on 10th graders from the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988, we extend the work of Argys et al. by examining the relationship between birth order and participation in school sports and other extracurricular activities. Our results suggest that having an older sibling is associated with an increased probability that males played baseball and 172 S. K. Srivastava J. Psychosoc. Res.

football, were members of the school swim team, and participated in cheerleading.

Female 10th graders with older siblings were less likely to engage in a variety of extracurricular activities including school band, community service, and yearbook.

These results provide additional evidence that birth order is related to adolescent behavior.

OBJECTIVES AND HYOPTHESES The present study aims to find out the effect of achievement motivation among birth orders. The following hypotheses have been formulated: - 1. There is no significant difference between first born children and second born children on achievement motivation.

2. There is no significant difference between first born children and third born children on achievement motivation.

3. There is no significant difference between second born children and third born children achievement motivation.

METHODOLOGY Sample: For this study, sample sizes of 90 students are selected from the nearest Inter College “Swami Satyamitranand Giri Inter College” Haripur Kala, Dehradoon, Uttarakhand. This is selected from three groups i.e. 30 from first birth order, 30 from second birth order and 30 from third birth order. The students are selected on the basis of purposive sampling technique. All the students belong to equal SES.

Tool/Scale: For measurement of achievement motivation, researcher used Rao achievement motivation test developed by D. Gopal Rao (1974). In this test high score indicate higher achievement motivation level and low score indicate lower achievement motivation level.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION In this research work mainly three hypotheses have been formulated. Each hypothesis will be discussed below: - Hypothesis 1 There is no significant difference between first born children and second born children on achievement motivation. Study the Effect of Achievement Motivation among Birth Orders J. Psychosoc. Res.173 Table 1 Showing the comparison between first born and second born children on achievement motivation. Achievement Significance Birth Order N Motivation Scores SE D CR Level Mean SD First Born 30 50.804.58 Second Born 30 51.80 2.98 df = 58 Graphical Representation of Table 1 On the basis of the graph and table 1, the mean of the first born and second born children are 50.8 and 51.8 respectively. The SD of the first born and second born children are 4.58 and 2.98 respectively. The t-test was used to assess the significance of the hypothesis. The obtained t-value is 1.01, since the obtained t-value is less than the table value at 0.05 level of confidence for df = 58. So, there is no significant difference on achievement motivation between first born and second born children. Since the hypothesis 1 is accepted.

Hypothesis 2:

There is no significant difference between first born children and third born children on achievement motivation. Not Significant 0.99 1.01 174 S. K. Srivastava J. Psychosoc. Res. Table 2 Showing the comparison between first born children and third born children on achievement motivation. Achievement Significance Birth Order N Motivation Scores SE D CR Level Mean SD First Born 30 50.804.58 Third Born 30 51.33 3.63 df = 58 Graphical Representation of Table 2 On the basis of the result table 2 and graph, the mean of the first born and third born children are 50.8 and 51.33 respectively. The SD of the first born and third born children are 4.58 and 3.63 respectively. The t-test was used to assess the significance of the hypothesis. The obtained t-value is 0.49, since the obtained t-value is less than the table value at 0.05 level of confidence for df = 58. So, there is no significant difference on achievement motivation between first born and third born children. Since the hypothesis 2 is accepted.

Hypothesis 3 There is no significant difference on between second born children and third born children achievement motivation. Not Significant 1.07 0.49 Study the Effect of Achievement Motivation among Birth Orders J. Psychosoc. Res.175 Table 3 Showing the comparison between second born children and third born children achievement motivation. Achievement Significance Birth Order N Motivation Scores SE D CR Level Mean SD Second Born 30 51.80 2.98 Third Born 30 51.33 3.63 df = 58 Graphical Representation of Table 3 On the basis of the result table 3 and graph, the mean of the second born and third born children are 51.80 and 51.33 respectively. The SD of the second born and third born children are 2.98 and 3.63 respectively. The t-test was used to assess the significance of the hypothesis. The obtained t-value is 0.55, since the obtained t-value is less than the table value at 0.05 level of confidence for df = 58. So, there is no significant difference on achievement motivation between second born and third born children. Since the hypothesis 3 is accepted.

In the present research work “A study of achievement motivation among birth orders” the researcher attempt to determine that birth order can effect on achievement motivation in school going children. In this work the researcher has made 3 hypotheses and results show that our 3 hypotheses are accepted. It means that variables of above hypotheses did not score significant difference on achievement motivation. Achievement Not Significant 0.85 0.55 176 S. K. Srivastava J. Psychosoc. Res.

motivation is such a motive which induct to the person in such a way that he can get more and more success. As “Munn, Fernald and Fernald”, (1972) said, “Achievement motive seeks the willingness to get to specific level of superiority.” Not only birth order but also many other factors affect to achievement motivation. For example, many psychologists showed in their research that achievement motivation has warm relationship from the ‘independence training’ given by the parents to their child. The meaning of this training is that parents compel their child independently to do different types of the work. Understanding nonsense, some parents do not pay attention on their child’s deed. Some parents gives the independence to their child to do his work by own and also give different type of incentive after the completion of work. So it can be said that the first type of child could not get independence training as the second type got, that’s why the second type child has same achievement motivation than first type. So this is main factor which affect the achievement motivation of any individual. A number of psychologists considers that an individual’s ‘socio-economic status’ also affects to his need of achievement. Who have low socio-economic status, they have high achievement motivation and who have high socio-economic status, they have low achievement motivation. Main motive may be sampling error because the sample size was 90. It was divided into three parts having 30 units. After that every cluster was divided into two groups of 15 units to control the extraneous variable – sex.

Like this we can say that results give us an idea about ‘no relationship’ between variables owing to miniature sample size. Koren M. Dailey (2006) completed a study (Birth order and its effect on motivation and academic achievement) and located no significant differences between birth orders. In order to interpretation Dailey suggested that this study would need many more participants to show a significant difference, as birth order effects are normally very small.

CONCLUSION In present research work “a study of achievement motivation among birth orders” researcher wants to find out the difference between birth order and achievement motivation. This research attempt to determine that birth order can have effect on achievement motivation in school going children. It is recognized by the result of this field study that birth order, both variables have effected to achievement motivation.

The fact is this, the achievement motivation has been found in children whether they have any type of birth order. Hence, we can declare that the achievement motivation is found in the children according to this study. But, we can not declare about the birth orders clearly yet. There are many such large scaled researches which are against to each other. The results indicated that there was no significant effect of achievement motivation among birth orders. Study the Effect of Achievement Motivation among Birth Orders J. Psychosoc. Res.177 REFERENCES Abdel-Khalek, A.M. and Lynn, R. (2008). Intelligence, family size and birth order: Some data from Kuwait. Journal of Personality and Individual Differences, 44(4), 1032-1038.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR S. K. Srivastava — Professor, 12-A, Gangorti Street, Vishnu Garden, Haridwar - 249404 (Uttarakhand) E-mail: [email protected]