Homework and pupil achievement in Norway : evidence from TIMSS
Year: 2010
Type: report
Abstract: By using data on Norwegian 4th and 8th graders who participated in TIMSS 2007,\nthis report starts out by investigating whether time spent on homework varies\nacross pupils from different socio-economic backgrounds. The findings show that\npupils from lower socio-economic backgrounds, in both 4th and 8th grade, are\nmore likely to spend no time on homework than pupils from higher socio-economic\nbackgrounds (although homework is given). At the same time it is also found that\nif pupils from lower socio-economic backgrounds spend time on homework, they\nactually spend more time on it than pupils from higher socio-economic\nbackgrounds.\nOne reason why pupils from lower socio-economic backgrounds are more likely to\nspend zero time on homework could be lack of interest or necessary skills. Another\nexplanation may be poor out-of-school learning environments. I.e., these pupils\nmay have parents who do not or cannot help with homework or make sure that they\ncomplete their homework. There are also many possible explanations why pupils\nfrom lower socio-economic background spend more time on homework than pupils\nfrom higher socio-economic backgrounds. First of all, they may need more time in\nto complete their homework if they find the homework more difficult than pupils\nfrom higher socio-economic backgrounds. Also more time spend on homework can\nreflect problems related to motivation, frustration and concentration. On the other\nhand, more time spent on homework may also reflect high educational ambitions,\nregardless of socioeconomic background.\nThe second aim of the report is to analyze the effect of homework on pupil\nachievement. There seem to be a positive effect of homework (in mathematics) on\naverage. However, not all pupils seem to benefit from homework. In fact, pupils\nfrom lower socio-economic backgrounds (measured as no or very few books at\nhome) actually perform better if less homework is assigned.\nOne explanation why homework has a negative effect for some pupils, may be that\nhomework leads to declining motivation (also during school hours), and hence\nindirectly affect the achievement negatively. Another explanation may be poor out\nof school learning environments in combination with that homework serves as a\nsubstitute for learning in school.
Author: Marte Rønning
Language: English
Subfield: Education
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2479079255