The International Observatory on Academic Achievement - Documentary search

File number :
CS-CEFC-12e

Bibliographic reference :
Jeynes, W.H. (2005). A Meta-Analysis of the Relation of Parental Involvement to Urban Elementary School Student Academic Achievement. Urban Education, 40(3), 237-269.

Abstract :

This American study examined the relationship between parental involvement and the academic achievement of elementary students attending urban schools. Four research questions were raised:
(1) To what degree is parental involvement associated with higher levels of academic achievement among urban students?
(2) Do school programmes fostering parental involvement influence urban students positively as anticipated?
(3) What aspects of parental involvement (e.g., communication, aspirations, help with homework) help these students best to achieve?
(4) Does the relationship between parental involvement and academic achievement hold across race and gender groups?

To answer these questions, the author of this article conducted a meta-analysis of 41 selected studies that met certain criteria. As a whole, the studies involved more than 20,000 participants.

Different measures of academic achievement were used, including an overall measure of all components of academic achievement combined, standardized tests to determine academic achievement and grades, assessment of the educational level achieved, and teacher rating scales and indices of academic behaviours and attitudes.

The variables considered in this meta-analysis were parental involvement, parent-child communication, homework monitoring, parental expectations of their children’s academic achievement, reading assistance, parental involvement in school activities and parental style.

Relationship between Parental Involvement and Academic Achievement
Results drawn from all the types of achievement measures considered in this study confirmed the positive influence of parental involvement on the academic achievement of urban students. In addition, this influence appeared to transcend differences in socio-economic status and race.

The Effect of School Programmes
Analyses showed that programmes implemented in schools that encourage parental involvement were associated positively with student academic achievement. This finding is important, because it helps educational players to gain a better understanding of the positive input of parental involvement in school, especially with regard to academic scores.

The Most Important Aspects of Parental Involvement
It was found that most components of parental involvement were associated to various degrees with students’ academic scores. Results showed that the components most likely to foster academic achievement were parental aspirations and style. Interestingly enough, these components were not necessarily specific actions, such as checking students’ homework before they hand it in. The components indirectly contributed to creating a positive learning atmosphere that impressed in children’s minds the objectives to achieve and a certain understanding of the fact that their parents were there to support them.

In a lesser measure, other components such as reading with or to children and communication proved to influence academic achievement positively. Homework monitoring and parental involvement in school activities seemed to have little effect on academic achievement.

Relationship between the Study Variables Based on Race and Gender
A positive relationship was also found between parental involvement and academic achievement across race and gender. This finding was particularly interesting, for it suggested that parental involvement could be an effective means of bridging the achievement gap between white and racial minority students.

Links :
This journal is also available in electronic format. Publisher’s Website address: http://uex.sagepub.com/"

Key Words :
Parental Involvement, Parental Style, Parental Aspirations, Urban Area, Race, Gender, Socio-economic Status, Educational Programmes, Meta-analysis, Newsletter13

Monitored Countries :
United States