The Effects of Single- Parent Families on Student Academic Achievement Christina Michalek ED Spring 2009

Table of Contents Research Design Threats to Internal Validity Threats to External Validity Proposed Data Correlational Graph

Research Design Pre-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 Validity Experimental 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 Interaction Participants were not chosen at random. It is a set sample. Treatment Diffusion Students 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 Student Survey Questions How often do your parents/guardians do the following? 1) Never2) Hardly Ever3) Sometimes4) 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 minutes2) 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?_____

Assessment Results Single ParentTwo Parent Math6382 Reading7192 Writing7285 Content Area6581 Single Parent Average Two Parent Average85 Correlation

Assessment Results-Correlation