Abstract:

In the present research, the relationship between risk taking behavior and academic achievement was examined among high school students. The sample of the study consisted of 397 high school students (194 female, 203 male) selected from two different high school of Mersin. The mean age of the students was 16.91 with a Standard deviation of .82 ranged from 15 to 20. 69 students were ninth grade, 152 10th grades and 176 11th grades. To measure the risk taking behavior, Adolescent Risk Taking Behavior Inventory (Kıran, 2000) was used. Academic achievement scores of the student were gathered from schools records. The data related with demographic variables were obtained by an information sheet added to the ARTBI. Two separate ANOVAs (Gender-Academic Achievement and Gender- Family Income Level) were applied to the ARTBI scores of the students. Results showed a difference in ARTBI scores to gender and academic achievement. And also a relationship was observed between income level and Risk Taking behavior that the lower the income levels of the students the greater their scores in ARTBI. Key words : Risk taking, gender, academic achievement.

Keywords: