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.