Extracurricular activities, academic outcomes, and life chances

Previous research in status attainment has examined the effect of high school grades and educational aspirations on future educational and occupational attainment. Using a combination of role theory and life chances, this research expands on previous research by examining the effects of participation in extracurricular activities and locus of control on grades and educational expectations. Using the High School and Beyond data set and structural equation modeling, this research finds that, in general, participation in extracurricular activities has a positive effect on high school grades and educational expectations. The main exception is for a negative effect of work. The effects of participation in extracurricular activities on academic outcomes are different for male and female students, as well as for white, black, Hispanic, and Asian students. The hypothesized relationship between participation in extracurricular activities and locus of control is found to be very small or non-existent, leading to the conclusion that there are two independent routes to academic success. Extracurricular activities are found to be an important part of life chances in high school. Policy implications and recommendations for future research are presented.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Sociology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Hunt, Harold David

Contributors dc:contributor

• Liebert, Roland J.

• Education, Sociology of
• Education, Secondary
• Sociology, Individual and Family Studies

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1996 Hunt, Harold David

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

9780591087093
AAI9702542
(UMI)AAI9702542

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/19081