The Relationship of Extracurricular Activity Involvement to I.Q., Academic Achievement, Attendance, and Discipline Referrals at a Selected Midwestern High School

Abstract

The problem. This study was developed to examine and determine the relationship between involvement in extracurricular activities and the educational lives of students in a selected midwestern high school. Procedure. Three hundred seventy-four graduating seniors from a selected midwestern high school completed the Fall Senior Information Sheet and the Spring Senior Information Sheet. These instruments gathered data relevant to activity involvement at the tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grades. Data relevant to I.Q. scores, academic achievement, attendance rates, and discipline referrals were gathered from available office records. The relationship between extracurricular activity involvement and 1.Q. scores, academic achievement, attendance rates, and discipline referrals was statistically analyzed through the use of partial correlations. Findings. One highly significant relationship between extracurricular activity involvement and academic achievement for participants was determined. The results indicated a significant relationship between extracurricular activity involvement and I.Q. as well as decreased discipline referrals for the participants. Although the results also indicated a significant relationship between extracurricular activity involvement and attendance rates, the relationship was not a particularly strong one. The study discovered that females are more involved in activities and maintain higher grade-point averages than do males. Males, however, have higher attendance rates and fewer discipline referrals. Conclusion. There is a significant relationship between involvement in extracurricular activities and the educational lives of students in a selected midwestern high school. Recommendations. Additional research is recommended concerning the relationship of participation in extracurricular activities and academic achievement in high school students. Further research should be conducted to determine why a greater percentage of students do not participate in extracurricular activities using larger and smaller populations selected from a variety of population bases.