Joshua Jackson MSCI Action Research Project Brescia University June 30, 2011 The Effect of Working on High School Students’ GPA 1

Problem Statement Many students work during school year. Determine the relationship between GPA of high school students who work during the school year. Find solutions to help them. 2

Definitions of Terms GPA: high school student’s cumulative grade point average during the time of the study. Job: working a set number of hours per week, outside of school to receive a paycheck. Working Group: participants who held a job during the study. Eligible Student: Student who is at least 16 yrs. old. 3

Significance of Study Many studies have been done, but none in this part of the country. To find relationship between GPA and the number of hours worked. 4

Research Questions 1. Does working while in high school effect students’ GPA? 2. Do socioeconomic factors have an effect on working students’ GPA? 5

Hypotheses 1. High school students who work during the school year will show no significant relationship in the GPA compared to those who do not work during the school year. 2. There will be no significant correlation between the amount of hours worked by high school students and their GPA. 6

Methodology A self-created survey was used to collect data that would be analyzed. Survey was administered online using Survey Monkey. Online Survey 7

Unit Analysis Pearson r correlation model was used to find a relationship between to sets of numbers made by the same group of participants (Mertler & Charles, 2008, p. 336). 8

Population Under Investigation Apollo High School is made up 1,314 students. There are 364 freshmen, 335 sophomores, 328 juniors, and 281 seniors. The junior and senior classes were considered the “eligible students” as they are generally of the legal age to work in the state of Kentucky. The student body is comprised of 1,167 (88.1%) White students and 147 (11.9%) non-white students. The school is 48.55% male (638) and 51.45% female (676.) Forty-eight percent of the student body participates in the “free and reduced” lunch program. 9

Sample Used Convenience and Random sampling was used to choose participants for study. 130 students who were deemed “eligible” % of the junior and senior class. 10

Data Analysis Pearson r was used in the following ways: All Participants Working Group Free and Reduced Lunch Two Parents Working 11

Chart of Analysis Group AnalyzedPearson r Correlation Coefficient Relationship All Participants Small Positive Working Group as Whole Medium Positive Working Sub-Category 1 ( GPA) Medium Positive Working Sub-Category 2 ( GPA) Small Positive Free and Reduced Lunch No Relationship Two Parents Working Small Positive 12

Limitations to the Study Students were chosen because they were in particular classes (not completely random). Students who said they worked may have just started working. Students who said they did not work may have just quit. 13

Recommendations Suggested Future studies include: Include more participants Longitudinal study of students in area Studying minority groups Study of time management methods for students who choose to work 14

Conclusion Study shows there is no significant relationship between high school students’ GPA and working. Students can continue work while in school without fear of lower grades. Students who are thinking about getting a job can do so and be successful. 15

Questions 16

References Mertler, C. A., & Charles, C. M. (2008). Introduction to educational research (6th ed.). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon. 17