The Effect of Athletic Participation on the Academic Achievement of High School Students


Book Description

Athletic participation is a major component of the high school experience for many students across the country, yet in difficult economic times athletic funding is often the first area reduced when education budgets need to be balanced. These cuts are usually performed without data on or inquiry into the relationship between athletic participation and academic achievement. If a relationship could be proven, advocates of athletics would have a stronger argument for the preservation of funding. This study utilized a quantitative, causal-comparative design to examine the relationship between athletic participation and academic achievement. Grade point averages of students who participated in high school athletics three years in a row were compared with those of students who did not participate for three years in a row. The study focused on the growth rate, or change in grade point average over the three years, in order to make a stronger argument that differences in achievement between the two groups could be attributed to participation (or lack of participation). On average, the achievement of athletes was significantly higher than that of non-participants during the first year, but athletes lost some of this advantage over the course of the study, meaning that they experienced negative growth. Non-participants did experience positive growth that was statistically significant, however the effect size was small, meaning that the practical significance is minimal. Based on the results of the study, it is difficult to make the argument that athletics are linked to improved academic achievement. While athletic participation can still be considered part of the overall education of students with numerous benefits such as the development of leadership and teamwork skills, these benefits do not seem to translate to the classroom. Because the practical significance is low, there are no recommendations based on the results of this study in relation to funding or policy changes, although school districts may want to consider making the funding of activities proven to have a direct link to improved academic achievement their top priority. Future research in this area should continue to focus on growth rate rather than overall performance and attempt to first duplicate these results at additional sites. The rate of participation (number of sports played) should also be introduced to the conversation as it may affect results. Future studies may also wish to investigate why the rate of academic growth was so low for all students.




The Effect of Athletic Participation on the Academic Performance of Students


Book Description

"The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between athletic participation and academic performance. Many of the studies do not find a direct cause and effect relationship linking athletic participation to higher academic performance. However, studies do find a consistent correlation between athletic participation and higher Grade Point Average (GPA), higher standardized test scores, and increased brain functioning. In addition, athletes tend to exhibit positive personal disciplines that contribute to better academic performance, due to lower dropout rates, better overall attendance, and more time spent on homework. An effort by educators to promote athletics, and possibly even build movement time into class may be beneficial to students. Future studies should focus on holding constant many of the variables (such as school size, course rigor, socioeconomic status, etc.), and should focus more on GPA, or standardized test scores. Doing so would ensure the cause and effect relationship was clearly explored and would avoid skewing of results."--leaf 4.




An Analysis of the Academic Achievement and Athletic Participation in Selected Georgia High Schools


Book Description

With budget cuts being required in school systems around the country, many schools are struggling to justify the continued funding of athletic programs. Many students in the United States are faced with the formal education process ending after high school without the students having had the opportunity to become involved in extracurricular activities that may provide them with skills beneficial in meeting their future goals. Bandura's social learning theory served as a theoretical framework for the study. Through participation in school athletics, students can learn and apply skills that are relevant to learning across disciplines: social skills, work ethic, self-confidence, and internal locus of control. Thus, the purpose of this quantitative, causal-comparative study was to determine whether there was a difference in the cumulative GPA of students who participated in interscholastic athletics versus students who did not participate in interscholastic athletics. Archival data were retrieved for students (n=2,483) enrolled in three selected high schools in Georgia. A two-factor (3x2) ANOVA was used to test the significance of the effects of athletic participation (three levels) and of the possible moderating effect of gender on students' cumulative GPA. Results of the study indicated that students who participated in extracurricular sports did not have higher cumulative GPA scores than their peers who did not participate in sports F(2, 2436) =.645, p =.525, and gender F(2, 2436) =.444, p =.641 was irrelevant to the relationship between athletic participation and academic performance. These findings should be considered as leaders weigh the options of programming extracurricular activities including athletics and have to address gender equity and budget limitation concerns.




In-season and Out-of-season Academic Performance of Secondary School Student-athletes


Book Description

The in-season and out-of-season effects of sports participation on academic performance vary depending on the level of play from middle school through collegiate athletics. The purpose of this study was to determine if a significant difference exists between in-season academic performance and out-of-season academic performance of student-athletes in a low-income high school. The number of students participating in high school athletics has continued to rise for 33 consecutive years as increases in the commercialization of high school athletics affect the athletic identities and academic achievement of student-athletes. Little research has been done to examine the effects of in- and out-of-season play on academic performance at the secondary level. This study examined the in- and out-of-season effects on the academic performance of 130 student-athletes in a low-income high school using a repeated measures design. The average semester GPAs of the student-athletes in- and out-of-season were compared using paired samples t-test procedures. The findings yielded positive and statistically significant differences in academic achievement in-season as compared to out-of-season at p = 0.038. Suggestions for future research include examining the effects of athletic seasons on academic achievement in individual sports and across ethnic groups, longitudinal studies, and qualitative studies to investigate the perspectives of student-athletes.




The Impact of Athletic Participation on Academic Performance of Students at the Secondary Level


Book Description

For the purpose of this study, students were divided into categories depending on if they participated in athletics and by sex. These students' passage percentage on the Social Studies portion of the Alabama High School Graduation Exam (AHSGE) was compared to attempt to determine if participation in athletics had an effect on the passage rate. The Pearson Chi-Square formula was used to determine the p-value of the results. The results indicated that male and female students that were involved in athletics had higher passage rates on the Social Studies portion of the AHSGE. The results came from a research site in southeast Alabama.




Educating the Student Body


Book Description

Physical inactivity is a key determinant of health across the lifespan. A lack of activity increases the risk of heart disease, colon and breast cancer, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, osteoporosis, anxiety and depression and others diseases. Emerging literature has suggested that in terms of mortality, the global population health burden of physical inactivity approaches that of cigarette smoking. The prevalence and substantial disease risk associated with physical inactivity has been described as a pandemic. The prevalence, health impact, and evidence of changeability all have resulted in calls for action to increase physical activity across the lifespan. In response to the need to find ways to make physical activity a health priority for youth, the Institute of Medicine's Committee on Physical Activity and Physical Education in the School Environment was formed. Its purpose was to review the current status of physical activity and physical education in the school environment, including before, during, and after school, and examine the influences of physical activity and physical education on the short and long term physical, cognitive and brain, and psychosocial health and development of children and adolescents. Educating the Student Body makes recommendations about approaches for strengthening and improving programs and policies for physical activity and physical education in the school environment. This report lays out a set of guiding principles to guide its work on these tasks. These included: recognizing the benefits of instilling life-long physical activity habits in children; the value of using systems thinking in improving physical activity and physical education in the school environment; the recognition of current disparities in opportunities and the need to achieve equity in physical activity and physical education; the importance of considering all types of school environments; the need to take into consideration the diversity of students as recommendations are developed. This report will be of interest to local and national policymakers, school officials, teachers, and the education community, researchers, professional organizations, and parents interested in physical activity, physical education, and health for school-aged children and adolescents.




The Effect of Athletic Participation on Academic Achievement for High School Seniors in Eastern Tennessee


Book Description

This causal-comparative study with a narrative component investigated the effect athletic participation on the academic achievement of senior student-athletes and non-athletes who attended three public high schools in Eastern Tennessee. The impetus for the study was the conflicting research as it relates to the impact athletics participation had on academic success at the college and high school levels. Through student athlete and non-athlete comparisons of ACT scores and GPAs, the researcher found athletic participation did not affect academic achievement for high school seniors who graduated in 2009 from the three target high schools when compared to non-athletes. However, statistically significant and extremely significant differences were found when the ACT scores and GPAs of the male and female student- athletes were compared. Data was also collected from the target high schools' teaching staffs. The Likert scale survey items and open-ended responses from the target high schools' teachers revealed the following regarding the academic achievement of senior student-athletes: the effect of athletic participation was positive, school systems directly affect the academic achievement of senior student- athletes, parental involvement directly affects academic achievement, athletic participation and academic achievement was important in the target school community, and the effect of athletic participation on the AYP measurement was positive.




Self-Efficacy in Changing Societies


Book Description

The volume addresses important issues of human adaptation and change.




The Effects of Male High School Students’ Participation in Athletic Sports on Academic Achievement


Book Description

With the rapid and steady growth of athletic participation, it is important that student athletes excel in the classroom and on the playing field. However, as the pressures of being a high school athlete grow, educators must seek better ways of supporting student athletes and help them understand the importance of their education. The purpose of the study was to determine if male students who participated in athletics had higher academic achievement mean scores than male students who did not participate in athletics. The study focused on measuring the cumulative grade point averages (GPAs), Algebra I end-of-course (EOC) test scores, and English II end-of-course (EOC) test scores for all male students. A causal-comparative research design was used to examine the differences in the academic performance of the male students who participated in high school athletics and those who did not participate. The research study was conducted using existing data from three high schools in Mississippi for 234 male high school students. There were 118 non-athletes and 116 athletes. Findings from the study revealed there were no statistically significant differences in cumulative GPAs, Algebra I EOC mean test scores, and English II EOC mean test scores for athletes and non-athletes. However, there was a statistically significant difference between African American male students and White male students for the mean scores of the cumulative GPAs and English II EOC test scores. The findings of the study revealed academic achievement was not affected by athletic participation. Recommendations for future research include conducting focused research on African American males and other minority groups and the implementation of high school academic support programs for student athletes.