Research Paper Statistics
INTRODUCTION
- Rationale
Studies indicate that students who participate in extracurricular activities do better than those who do not participate in these activities. Data acquired from the study reveal that among the students who were surveyed, watching television, playing sports and participating in various community services greatly develops academic performance, however, it was also revealed that playing musical instruments do not quite improve academic performance. Conclusively, the study shows that indeed extracurricular activities influence academic performance, subsequently; this effect depends on students’ involvement in various activities.
- Problem
- Purpose
The main purpose of this study is to find out if these extracurricular activities in which students in Junior High School students participate have really affected their academic performance.
- Research questions
- Do extracurricular activities (playing sports, playing musical activities, watching television, participating in community service) affect students’ academic performance?
- LITERATURE REVIEW
- Introduction to literature review
Sports, music, parental involvement all influence how children perform academically in school. Various ways in which children opt to spend their free time seemingly affect their performance in school. Ostensibly, it is not instructions given in impact students’ achievement in academics. Studies conducted by the U.S Education Department reveal that the biggest number of students that participate in these activities are three more times likely to attain a G.P of 3.0 and above. On the other hand, the majority of students who do not participate in co-curricular activities were found to attain a lower grade below 3.0 G.P (Zhang 63). Subsequently, studies show that in spite of students’ previous achievement and background, volunteering, various parenting as well as home learning activities influence the students’ grades in a positive way. In addition, factors influencing academic achievements of students were found to have some profound influence.
According to a local program for young girls in Northern Texas, one of the most significant influences on academic performance is the home environment. There seems to be a correlation students’ academic performance and the activities they choose to participate in outside of the classroom. Viewing television has been a major controversy especially in the academic performance of students, this therefore suggests that the connection between television viewing and cognitive development is a wide study that needs profound analysis (Kitamura 419). However, the majority of investigators do not quite conform to this agreement, they suggest that the quality and amount of family involvement and television viewing are the only influences of academic performance. In relation to academic performance, effects of sports and music are also controversial to some extent.
Notably, studies reveal that school principals of middle level schools are quite interested in relationships between participation in interscholastic sports and academic achievements. This implies that sports do not really have any kind of influence in the academic performance of students. Consequently, since all these activities have been found to affect the academic performance of students, the underlying question is whether they hinder or benefit the students. This research can be described as a descriptive study since it has observed and described the behavior of students and has also explored a test hypothesis on ‘behavior’. Ideally, this study was meant to determine co-curricular activities that are chosen by students in Junior High School influence their academic performance. In addition, viewing television has been found to be a major controversy especially in the academic performance of students, this therefore suggests that the connection between television viewing and cognitive development is a wide study that needs extensive research (Yager 265).
- Chapter summary
This study has included a lot of aspects concerning students’ involvement in extracurricular activities in Junior High School. These activities include; sports, music, parental involvement, community service, television watching among others. All these activities have been found to affect students’ performance in school. However, students that are not involved in these activities have been found to perform poorly in academics compared to those who indulge in these activities. Subsequently, from the analysis, sports do not have any substantial effect on the student’s performance in school. However one underlying question is if extracurricular activities hider or benefit the academic performance of students in school.
RESEARCH METHODS
The key purpose of this study is to determine if students in Junior high school are affected academically by the activities they choose. The selected research questions are;
- What particular effects do specific activities have on the academic performance of students in Junior High School?
- Is the academic performance of students in junior school in any way influenced by their involvement in extracurricular activities?
- Research design
The survey instrument used in this particular study was intended to identify the effects these activities have on junior school students. This study was based on four major and distinct points;
1 means ‘I agree’
2 means ‘I agree somewhat’
3 means ‘I disagree somewhat’
4 means ‘I disagree’
Personal data sheets requested demographic data including responses to five survey questions. Instruments to be used in the survey were distributed to students of junior high school who are enrolled at Walnut Creek, Walnut Creek Christian Academy, CA, in August 2012. Students handed in the completed surveys throughout the week after the distribution to the offices (Quimby 114).
- Description of population and sample
A method known as STAPAK was used to examine the data; however the measurement scale desired was an interval. Use of interval determines differences between the numbers of an interval scale are equal. Subsequently, 98 instruments of the survey were distributed to the junior high students’ parents at Walnut Creek Christian Academy. Parents had to read the cover letter that was located in Appendix B that illustrated the entire survey so as to determine if their students would participate or not. Students and parents who opted to participate in the activity handed out the surveys they had completed in the junior school office between August 6 and 8, 2012. Instruments for conducting the survey were returned after completion on an anonymous and voluntary basis.
- Sampling procedure
Only one-dimensional Chi-square test was applied in testing the data because there were some frequencies in the data ‘subjects that fall in every distinct category’. The results of the study were tested by, A. 0.1 level of significance. Data that was recovered from survey instrument was reported in figures, percentages and charts.
- Chapter Summary
RESULTS
- Description of the findings
Subjects sampled for this particular study were students of junior high school who attend Walnut Creek Christian Academy in the spring semester. There was a distribution of 98 copies of the survey instrument where 52 were used in the study and 52 were returned. Precisely, data that was collected from the 52 subjects will be examined stating with findings of the demography in subsequent sections. This survey depicted that 34% of the sampled students were in 6th grade, 36 in 7th grade and 32 in 8th grade.
- Data Analysis
Regarding the first question, since the Chi-square value is bigger than that of Chi-square on the table, it means that it is evident enough that indeed participation in extracurricular activities among students improves their academic performance. This finding consents to studies by researchers who have proven that the association between academic achievement and participation in extracurricular activities is positive and beneficial to students. Though these activities are not entirely related to academics, they strengthen and build students’ achievement in school. In addition to that, the students that participated in extracurricular activities had more academic aspirations, had higher grades and their attitudes in academics was greater than for their counterparts who were not in any way involved in these activities (Zhang 84).
The answer to the second question is that based on the values for question 3, 0.1 significant levels, the majority of the students affirms that participating in community service, sports and watching television significantly improve their academic achievement. However, under this question, the result analysis reveals that students' participation in musical performance does not improve their academic performance. Results of the One-dimensional Chi-square test depicts that students who participate in extracurricular activities greatly improve their academic performance. However, those who participate in musical performance do not improve their performance in school. All the other activities included in this study such as participating in community service and watching television improve academic performance among students in the junior school.
- Summary of the findings
Participating in extracurricular activities among students in junior high at Walnut Creek Christian is beneficial as it has a positive effect on their academic performance. In addition to that, participating in television viewing, athletics and community service greatly improves the academic performance among sampled students of junior high attending Walnut Creek Christian Academy.
DISCUSSION
- Conclusions
It is quite evident from the study that students who participate in extracurricular activities perform better in school compared to those who do not. Students, parents, teachers and school administrators there need to be aware of the benefits that come along with participation in extracurricular activities on students’ academic performance. Every student is talented in their own unique way and not every one of them can be impaired in one way or benefit from like everyone else. Parents have an obligation of fostering strong academic performance through their children to involve themselves in various activities that improve their performance in school.
- Recommendations
This study has provided coherent information pertaining extracurricular activities and issues that come along with them. A few issues arise regarding the significance and limitations of this study. This includes; this study ought to be replicated particularly using varying population to determine if students who participate in extracurricular activities really benefit or detriment from these activities. Secondly, this study should have been conducted to determine parents' support for their children in extracurricular activities.
- Implications
This study implies that most of the extracurricular activities that students involve in help them improve their academic performance. It is of paramount importance for students to identify extracurricular activities to involve which will in due course enable them perform better in school. Going by the saying ‘work with no play makes Jack a dull boy’ is applicable in this context with much emphasis.
Works Cited
Dunn, Dana. Best Practices for Teaching Beginnings and Endings in the Psychology Major: Research, Cases, and Recommendations. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2010. Internet resource.
Kitamura, Ryūichi, Toshio Yoshii, and Toshiyuki Yamamoto. The Expanding Sphere of Travel Behaviour Research: Selected Papers from the 11th International Conference on Travel Behavior Research. Bingley, UK: Emerald Group Pub, 2009. Print.
Quimby, Ernest. Doing Qualitative Community Research: Lessons for Faculty, Students and the Community. Sharjah: Bentham Science Publishers, 2012. Internet resource.
Yager, Robert E. Inquiry: The Key to Exemplary Science. Arlington, Va: NSTA Press, 2009. Print.
Zhang, Li-fang, Robert J. Sternberg, and Stephen Rayner. Handbook of Intellectual Styles: Preferences in Cognition, Learning, and Thinking. New York: Springer Pub. Co, 2012. Print.
