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Activity participation during high school: Influences of involvement on outcomes
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the relationships between the levels of involvement (high = more than 12 hours/week; moderate = 6 to 12 hours/week; low = less than 6 hours/week) and activity categories (extracurricular, private clubs, social organizations, and work) of high school sophomores and seniors and their self-concept. Parent and student perceptions of outcomes due to involvement were investigated. The sample included 445 students from a large midwestern, predominantly white, middle to upper income, suburban high school. Three instruments administered to gather data included the Student Involvement Activity Questionnaire, the Student/Parent Activity Involvement Structured Interview, both designed by the researcher, and the Piers-Harris Children's Self-Concept Survey, a standardized instrument. Eighty-three percent of the sophomores were highly involved in either extracurricular activities or work with 60 percent of the seniors highly involved in work. Multiple regression was used to calculate the correlations between the independent variables (level of involvement, activity category, class) and the dependent variable (self-concept). Level of involvement was statistically significant for sophomores for total self-concept (p =.02) and for the self-concept subtests of behavior (p =.01), intellectual and school status (p =.03), and popularity (p =.04). No significance was found for seniors, activity type, or the self-concept subtests of anxiety, physical, or happiness and satisfaction. Analysis of variance showed a three-way statistical significance (p =.007) for class, level of involvement, activity category, and behavior. Parent and student interviews revealed they agreed the major reason for involvement was to be involved with people outside the family. Students reported they made their own decisions about their involvement in activities. Benefits of involvement included learning how to work with people, making new friends, time management, making money, responsibility for actions, and leadership skills. Sacrifices included spending less time with friends, family, and studying. Personal characteristics rated by subjects indicated that extracurricular and private club activities were related to the development of the characteristics.
Subject Area
Secondary education|Social psychology
Recommended Citation
Newton, Carol Chapman, "Activity participation during high school: Influences of involvement on outcomes" (1991). ETD collection for University of Nebraska-Lincoln. AAI9200146.
https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/dissertations/AAI9200146