Identifier

etd-07142005-163536

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Human Ecology

Document Type

Thesis

Abstract

The primary focus of the current study was to examine the relations between children’s peer relationships and academic performance. This study involved a secondary analysis of data provided by children, parents, and teachers. In all, 585 families participated in the study. The sample is predominately middle class, generally representative of the geographical regions, and demographically diverse; 52% of the children were male, 19% were of a minority or ethnic background, and 26% lived with single parents. The current study analyzed data collected over a four year period beginning when the children were enrolled in kindergarten. Data were obtained using classroom-based sociometric interviews and teacher questionnaires. Three hypotheses were tested. The first hypothesis stated that there are concurrent associations between peer relationship experiences and academic performance. The second hypothesis stated that associations between peer relationships and academic performance also will be found when averaging across kindergarten through third grade. Analyses computed in this study indicate that better academic performance was associated with greater peer acceptance, more friends, and less rejection by peers in each grade and when averaging over the four-year period. The third hypothesis stated that there are positive associations between yearly changes in peer relationships and academic performance and a research question asked if the associations described in the hypotheses generalized to boys and girls.

Date

2005

Document Availability at the Time of Submission

Release the entire work immediately for access worldwide.

Committee Chair

Robert Laird

DOI

10.31390/gradschool_theses.2893

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