Need a literature review Draft completed

Milestone three draft of introduction and literature review

A description of the general topic I am researching involves that of student involvement with extracurricular activities. The problem statement to which I am interested in researching is whether prolonged exposure of student involvement to extracurricular activities has a residual effect on the students’ academic career. In other words, does student involvement with extracurricular activities have an effect on the students’ academic curriculum? Students’ academic curriculum, would include such items as course selection, students G.P.A, attendance, and likelihood of dropping out.

The importance and relevance a discussion of topics of this design to real world issues, should be quite apparent. Real world issues, such as the dropout rate of high-school students, would benefit greatly by knowing whether a correlation exists between student involvement and continuing education. Knowing that preventative measures could be incorporated, such as that of encouraging students to participate in extracurricular activities, stimulates a student to learn, and embrace the learning style of students. Therefore, studying involvement in extracurricular, has the potential to increase students’ academic curriculum participation.

Existing research on this particular topic of discussion are integrated in the following peer-review, which encompasses that of student involvement in a plethora of extracurricular activities. Many articles utilized in this analysis, were from Developmental Psychology, and Journal of Educational Psychology, and demonstrate a wealth of knowledge on this research methodology. The key themes from the articles discuss student engagement in playing videogames; internet usage; film, television and music preferences; sports involvement, and the potential beneficial effects of student’s involvement on the student’s current and future academic career.

Potential benefits of student involvement with extracurricular activities seem to be rather limitless. Based on the existing research pertaining to educational benefits of student engagement in extracurricular activities is statistically linked to increased curricular involvement, grade point averages, future academic involvement, and decreased likelihood of dropping out. Students who participate in non-academic, as well as academic extracurricular activities, such as music programs, student organizations, and sports teams, have a greater probability of graduating high school, and continuing their academic careers with a college education.

Analysis of different research designs of the previously conducted research argues the potential advantages and disadvantages to conducting research using this defined methodology. The majority of previously conducted research was conducted using questionnaires, and empirical research through observation, as well as longitudinal studies. Examples of research conducted previously, consists of a wide array of different styles, including but not limited to a survey data from the Alfred P. Sloan Study of Youth and Social Development, a gaming comparison to Darwinian survival of the fittest, a longitudinal study, and observational techniques.

Such observational techniques included requesting the participants within a specific research methodology, to read multiple passages, either aloud or silently, to analyze the influence of reading purpose (for entertainment or study) on inference generation. The reading did not influence off-line behavior but did influence on-line behavior. Whereas, another study measured the quality of extracurricular activities, which is said to decline with the transition to middle school, by assessing students perceptions. In accordance with the stage–environment fit approach, extracurricular activities are supposed to promote motivation.

Disadvantages and potential advantages to utilizing a research study with a similar methodology are centered upon the research flaws. No existing study or research conducted today, or previously, is without limitations. However, the problem is discovering ways in which to work around the existing flaws in research methodology. Existing disadvantages within the current research on the subject of extracurricular activities and their effects on student curriculum, is centered on that of high school, or middle school students. Many researchers overlook the simple fact that extracurricular activities for many students begin earlier and extend further.

Utilizing longitudinal studies, a current student’s involvement could be studied for a longer duration. Therefore, over the lifetime of a student, a researcher would potentially gain beneficial knowledge of the average students participation and involvement in extracurricular activities, and the effects those activities have on the students’ academic performance. Advantages of the previously conducted research is centered on the extensive research available, which cover a range of different subjects covered under the topic of extracurricular activities. These advantages have unlimited potential for conducting extensive research on this subject worldwide.

The most appropriate design for my research question, based on the previous research, is that of conducting a longitudinal study, which involves a survey of students in various schools in a specific location. Based on the evaluation of appropriateness of the research designs previously existing, conducting a longitudinal study of students across a specified timespan would allow the researcher to compare previous and current students extracurricular activities with their in school participation, and the effects on their academic curriculum. Using previously conducted research, would therefore enable the researcher to analyze the benefits of extracurricular activities.

An understanding of the appropriateness of this design for a research question is detrimental in conducting the research, and performing the study efficiently and effectively. This design for a research question, allows the researcher the ability conduct the research without creating ethical issues, or hindering the learning process of the research participants. This research design would be appropriate to conduct roughly two or four times a year, depending on the evaluation of students with report cards. A survey would be given to instructors to evaluate student’s extracurricular and curricular participation during the appropriate timeframe.

The current information relative to our subject at hand, is demonstrated and thoroughly discussed at length in a plethora of articles and research data. Primarily, this information is found via online databases which cover a variety of fields, such as Psychology, Sociology, and Business. What is unknown however, could also be inferred through analysis and study of the current research available. By analyzing the earlier research, we are then capable of discovering previously undiscovered research limitations, and uncertainties the current research is generally incapable of managing without conducting further study on a particular topic.

In relation to the APA’s principles and standards, the data analysis procedures used in the literature, adheres to these guidelines proficiently. The procedures mentioned in the literary articles to which my study is based, use a methodology which prevents crossing ethical boundaries, and causing issues for both the researchers, and the research participants. Data analysis procedures used here, rely heavily on empirical research data, longitudinal studies, questionnaires and other methodologies. These principles and standards, which are utilized by the already mentioned literary articles, strictly adhere to guidelines previously established in regards to human participants when conducting research methodological studies.

Based on the previous research, a testable research question, would be that of whether or not extracurricular activities play an active role in the curriculum of students throughout a student’s lifetime. Worded simply, does a student’s participation in extracurricular activities have a positive effect on the student’s participation in the academic curriculum? This research question, based on the previously conducted research, involves that of a student’s participation in curricular and extracurricular activities and the residual effects of their participation, or lack of participation within these variables.

Testable hypotheses based on the research question and research around this exact subject, are limited to the precise topic. One testable hypothesis for this particular research methodology would be that of the following statement: prolonged student exposure and involvement with extracurricular activities have residual effects on the student’s lifelong curriculum, including higher grade point averages, and decreased likelihood of dropping out before graduation. Using a testable hypothesis based on the previously conducted research, allows the researcher the ability to ensure validity and reliability, while preventing biases and unethical conduct.

References:

Guest, Andrew & Schneider, Barbra (2003). Adolescents’ extracurricular participation in context: The mediating effects of schools, communities and identity. Sociology of Education, 76.2, 89-109.

Wasserman, I.M & Richmond-Abbott, M. (2005), Gender and the Internet: Causes of variation in access, level, and scope of use. Social Science Quarterly, 86: 252-270. Doi:20.1111/j.0038-4941.2005.00301.x

Gee, James Paul (2003). What video games have to teach us about learning and literacy? Computers in Entertainment (CIE)-Theoretical and Practical Computer Applications in Entertainment.

Narvaez, Darcia, van der Broek, Paul, & Ruiz, Barron Angela. (1999). the influence of reading purpose on inference generation and comprehension in reading. Journal of Educational Psychology, 91(3), 488-496.

Fisher, Natalie & Theis, Desiree. (2014). extracurricular participation and the development of school attachment and learning goal orientation: The impact of school quality. Developmental Psychology, 50(6), 1788-1793.

Luthar, Suniya S., Shoum, Karen A., & Brown, Pamela J., (2006). Extracurricular involvement among affluent youth: A scapegoat for 'ubiquitous achievement pressures'? Developmental Psychology , 42(3), 583-597.

Fredricks, Jennifer A., & Eccles, Jacquelynne S., (2006). Is extracurricular participation associated with beneficial outcomes? Concurrent and longitudinal relations. Developmental Psychology, 42(4), 698-713.

Dawes, Nickki Pearce., & Larson, Reed. (2011). how youth get engaged: Grounded-theory research on motivational development in organized youth programs. Developmental Psychology, 47(1), 259-269.

Beal, Sarah J., & Crockett, Lisa J., (2010). Adolescents’ occupational and educational aspirations and expectations: Links to high school activities and adult educational attainment. Developmental Psychology, 46 (1), 258-265.

Mahoney, Joseph L., & Cairns Robert B., (1997). Do extracurricular activities protect against early school dropout? Developmental Psychology, 33(2), 241-253.