The relationship between student participation rates in Texas public school extracurricular activity programs and related factors of academic achievement, attendance, drop outs and discipline
Year: 2004
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Supporters of public education must point out positive aspects of the school \nprogram. One such aspect is the extracurricular activity program. Research points to the \nbenefits students who participate in extracurricular activities gain in reference to \nacademic achievement and other school related environmental factors (absences, \ndropouts, discipline referrals) (Greer, 1975; Hanks and Eckland, 1976; Joekel, 1985; \nNFHS, 1999). However, other existing research points to the fact that an over emphasis \non school extracurricular activity programs, can negatively impact student and school \nperformance on certain academic indicators (Coleman, 1961; Meier, 1999; Miracle, \n1994). \nToday, widespread budget cuts have weakened and eliminated some \nextracurricular and co-curricular programs, which may carry hope and direction for \nstudents. By decreasing the number and quality of such programs, schools are also losing \navenues that may help direct students/participants away from gang and other negative \npersonal and social behavior. By cutting these programs, one of the most important \nmeans of socializing our youth and improving school environments is slipping away. \nThe study investigated the following research questions: \nWhat is the relationship between the overall participation rate, athletic \nparticipation rate and non-athletic participation rate in Texas public school extracurricular \nactivity programs and related factors of academic achievement, attendance, dropouts and \ndiscipline? \nWhat is the relationship between school size and overall participation rate, athletic \nparticipation rate and non-athletic participation rate in Texas public school extracurricular \nactivity programs? \nIn total, the findings of this study provide support for the notion that participation \nin extracurricular activities can have positive implications not only for student success \nacademically, but also for school success as a whole. In reference to the participation \nrates (overall, athletic and non-athletic) in the school extracurricular activity program and \ntheir relationships to academic achievement, attendance, dropouts and discipline, it is \nclear from the data that schools with higher participation rates in extracurricular activities \nhave statistically significant differences in their performance on the tested variables. In \nreference to school size, the data indicate that as the size of the school increases the rate \nof participation in extracurricular activities (overall, athletic and non-athletic) decreases \nat a statistically significant rate.
Author: Mark Eric Cousins
Language: English
Subfield: Developmental and Educational Psychology
Field: Psychology
Domain: Social Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1837092589