The influence of parental involvement on academic achievement
Introduction
Parental involvement in a child’s education plays a
very important role in academic achievement. It is considered as one of the
crucial factors by educators, education policy makers and academic
administrators. This article explores the multifaceted relationship between
parental involvement and student outcomes, examining the various ways in which
parents can positively impact their children's educational experiences. By
considering the observations and theoretical work of similar papers, it is
found that parental involvement influences academic success of the student. From
an ecological perspective, there is significant pressure in today’s society to
strengthen the linkages between home and school environments to positively
influence childhood outcomes.[1] While research has heavily focused
on the impact of parental involvement on children’s academic achievement,
minimal attention has been given to exploring the influence that such practices
may have on other stakeholders, such as parents and teachers. This study aims
to better understand the impact of parental involvement on childhood outcomes,
parental well-being, and parent-teacher relationships.
However, the impact of parental involvement on student
academic achievement is considered weakest if parental involvement was defined
as homework assistance. The strength of that relationship varies based on the
type of assessment used to measure student achievement.[2]
Theoretical Framework
There is a strong belief in society that parental
involvement has a strong positive effect on students’ academic performance.
Student learning not only takes place in schools but also the contexts of
families and communities play a great role (Ma, Shen, Krenn, Hu & Yuan,
2016). Therefore, parental involvement is seen as quite significant in
students’ learning and academic achievement.[3]
The connection between parental involvement and
academic achievement can be explored through various theoretical lenses. One
prominent perspective is Social Learning Theory, which suggests that
children learn by observing and imitating the behaviors of significant others,
including their parents. When parents demonstrate a positive attitude towards
education and engage in academic activities themselves, they serve as powerful
role models, inspiring their children to follow suit.
Another relevant theory is Expectancy-Value Theory.
This framework suggests that individuals are more likely to engage in
activities that they believe they can succeed in and that they find valuable.
Parental involvement can shape children's expectations for academic success by
providing support, encouragement, and resources. Additionally, parents can help
their children perceive education as valuable and meaningful by emphasizing its
importance and connecting it to future goals.
Empirical Evidence
A vast body of research supports the positive
association between parental involvement and academic achievement. Studies have
consistently shown that children with involved parents tend to have higher
grades, better test scores, and improved academic performance overall.
Furthermore, parental involvement has been linked to increased student
motivation, higher self-esteem, and reduced dropout rates.
The expectations placed on school professionals have
continued to grow and expand, with school being responsible for addressing
academic, behavioral, social, and emotional needs of students no matter what
issues they face in their home. Academic achievement is an important aspect of
a student’s life that is influenced by a number of compounding factors
interacting with each other on a daily basis. Amongst all of these factors,
researchers still debate which factors have the largest impact on the academic
achievement of students. [4] Therefore, the specific ways in which
parental involvement can influence academic achievement are considered in this
study. For example, parents can provide direct academic support by helping with
homework, tutoring, or reading together. They can also foster a positive home
learning environment by creating a designated study space, limiting
distractions, and ensuring access to necessary resources. Additionally,
parental involvement in school activities, such as attending parent-teacher
conferences and volunteering, can strengthen the school-home connection and
create a sense of belonging for the child.
Mechanisms of Influence
While the empirical evidence is clear, understanding
the underlying mechanisms through which parental involvement influences
academic achievement is essential. Several key factors may contribute to this
relationship:
- Positive
Expectations: Parental involvement can foster
positive expectations for academic success, leading to increased
motivation and effort.
- Enhanced
Self-Efficacy: Children with involved parents may
develop a stronger belief in their ability to succeed academically, which
can positively impact their performance.
- Improved
School-Home Connection: Parental
involvement can strengthen the bond between home and school, creating a
more supportive and nurturing environment for the child.
- Increased
Access to Resources: Involved parents can provide
their children with access to educational resources, such as books,
tutoring, and extracurricular activities.
- Modeling
Positive Behaviors: Parents who demonstrate a
positive attitude towards education and engage in academic activities
themselves can serve as role models for their children.
Literature Review
According to the study Effect of Parental Involvement
on Children’s Academic Achievement in Chile, 2019, author concludes that parental
involvement in school has been demonstrated to be a key factor for children’s
academic outcomes. The result in the study shows that there were
differences in academic achievement scores between the parent involvement
profiles, where high and medium involved parents had children with higher
academic achievement than low involved parents. In this context, Chile has
acknowledged the importance of collaborative relationships between parents and
schools leading to the development a National Policy for Father, Mother and
Legal Guardian Participation.
In another study Parent involvement and student
academic performance: A multiple mediational analysis, 2011, examines two
potential mechanisms of this association: the child's perception of cognitive
competence and the quality of the student-teacher relationship. In this study,
researchers have reported that parent-child interactions, specifically
stimulating and responsive parenting practices, are important influences on a
child's academic development.
Based on previous research, it was hypothesized that
parents who have a positive attitude towards their child's education, school,
and teacher are able to positively influence their child's academic performance
by two mechanisms: (a) by being engaged with the child to increase the child's
self-perception of cognitive competence and (b) by being engaged with the
teacher and school to promote a stronger and more positive student-teacher
relationship.
Study conducted by Ibrahima Naite in his research
paper Impact of Parental Involvement on Children’s Academic Performance at
Crescent International School, Bangkok, Thailand, 2021 reveals that students
with highly involved parents had better academic performance and higher test
scores in all the subjects compared to students whose parents were not involved
in their education. The findings, suggested that parents should grow more
awareness on the importance of visiting and supporting their children in
school. It was also recommended that parents should take an active role in
assisting their children’s education at school and at home since they are the
first teachers of their children.
Recommendations based on the study
1) Promote Active Parental Engagement:
· Encourage
parents to actively participate in school activities, workshops, and events.
· Foster
open communication channels between parents and teachers to discuss student
progress and address any concerns.
2) Provide Clear Expectations:
· Schools
should clearly communicate expectations for parental involvement.
· Highlight
the importance of consistent attendance, monitoring homework, and attending
parent-teacher conferences.
3) Tailor Strategies to Diverse Families:
· Recognize
that different families have varying levels of availability and cultural norms.
· Offer
flexible involvement options (e.g., volunteering during evenings or weekends)
to accommodate diverse schedules.
4) Emphasize Home-School Partnerships:
· Collaborate
with parents to create a supportive learning environment at home.
· Share
resources (such as reading materials or educational apps) that parents can use
with their children.
5) Acknowledge Parental Contributions:
· Celebrate
and recognize parents’ efforts in supporting their child’s education.
· Highlight
success stories and positive outcomes resulting from parental involvement.
References:
[1] Epping, K. A. (2018). The impact of parental
involvement on students’ academic achievement, parental well-being, and
parent-teacher relationships.
[2] Wilder, S. (2023). Effects of parental involvement
on academic achievement: a meta-synthesis. In Mapping the field (pp.
137-157). Routledge.
[3] Erdem, C., & Kaya, M. (2020). A Meta-Analysis
of the Effect of Parental Involvement on Students' Academic Achievement. Journal
of Learning for Development, 7(3), 367-383.
[4] Avnet, M., Makara, D., Larwin, K. H., &
Erickson, M. (2019). The Impact of Parental Involvement and Education on
Academic Achievement in Elementary School. International Journal of
Evaluation and Research in Education, 8(3), 476-483.
[5] Lara, L., & Saracostti, M. (2019). Effect of
parental involvement on children’s academic achievement in Chile. Frontiers
in psychology, 10, 1464.
[6] Cole, S. A. (2017). The impact of parental
involvement on academic achievement (Doctoral dissertation,
Northcentral University).
[7] Topor, D. R., Keane, S. P., Shelton, T. L., &
Calkins, S. D. (2010). Parent involvement and student academic performance: A
multiple mediational analysis. Journal of prevention & intervention
in the community, 38(3), 183-197.
[8] Naite, I. (2021, March). Impact of parental
involvement on children’s academic performance at crescent international
school, Bangkok, Thailand. In IOP Conference Series: Earth and
Environmental Science (Vol. 690, No. 1, p. 012064). IOP Publishing.
Comments
Post a Comment