Download - The Effects of Single-Parent Families on Student Academic Achievement Christina Michalek ED 703.22
The Effects of Single-Parent
Families on Student Academic
Achievement
Christina MichalekED 703.22
Spring 2009
Table of ContentsResearch Design
Threats to Internal Validity
Threats to External Validity
Proposed Data
Correlational Graph
References
Research DesignPre-Experimental Quasi-Experimental
One designated treatment group (X1)Sample was not randomly selected
Threats to Internal Validity History
Participants may not be fully focused on completing the instruments of the study
Participants may not be completely honest when answering surveys and questionnaires
Changes in surroundings – fire drills, phone ringing, announcements being made, someone entering the room
Experimental Morality Participants may choose to no longer be part of the study Students may move to a new school
Selection-Maturation Interaction Students may become bored when answering surveys and
questionnaires Students may not pay attention to what is being asked of them
Instrumentation Parents may refuse to complete questionnaires and surveys at
any point
Threats to External ValidityExperimental Procedures
Students and parents may answer questions based on what they feel is the “best answer.” At times, this is not always the truth
Selection Treatment InteractionParticipants were not chosen at random. It is a set sample.
Treatment DiffusionStudents and parents may talk amongst themselves about
the contents of assessments, questionnaires, and surveys.Reactive Agreements/Participants Effects
Attitudes of participants may change over time.For example, a student may be having a bad day. This will
affect the student’s answers to surveys and questionnaires. It may also affect the assessment data of the survey.
Proposed Data-Survey Question Student Survey QuestionsHow often do your parents/guardians do the following?
1) Never2) Hardly Ever 3) Sometimes 4) Always-Help you with your homework _____-Talk to you about how you can improve in your schoolwork _____-Make sure you do your homework assignments _____-Talk to your teachers about how you are doing in school _____-Go to school activities and meetings ____________________________________________________________________________________1) 0-30 minutes 2) 30 minutes to 1 hour 3) 1 hour-1 ½ hours 4) more than 2
hours-How long does it take you to complete your homework? _____-How long do your parents help you with your homework? _____-How long do you study before a test? _____-How long do you spend reading each night? _____-How long do you speak to your parents about your school day? _____
Homework HelpProposed Question: How long do you spend helping your child with homework?(1) 0-30 minutes (2) 30 minutes-1 hour (3) 1 hour-1 ½ hours (4) More than 2 hours
Assessment ResultsMath (1) Literacy (2) Content Area (3)
Single Parent 66% 83% 80%Two Parent 87% 92% 89%
Single Parent Avg. 76%Two Parent Avg. 85%
Correlation 0.890439789
Correlational coefficient : (rxy) 0.890439789 This shows that there is a good correlation
between test averages of students who have one parent and students who have two parents.
Attitude Towards School
Correlational coeffiecient: (rxy) -0.904534034 This shows that there is no correlation of
attitudes towards school between students with one parent or two parents.
ReferencesO’Connor – Petruso, S. (2008).
Stat.scales.analyses.threats.design.ppt.