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i
Every child in sixth grade looks forward to that one special day; the day they sit their
Grade Six Achievement Test (GSAT). The feeling of anxiety rests not so much on the fact that
they will be moving on to higher education, but being placed in the school of their choice,
mastering all subject areas to be named top boy or girl for the school, parish and overall
achiever across the island. This however comes with much sacrifice and good discipline. For
some this dream is never realized for one reason or another.
This study is being undertaken to determine the relationship between television viewing
and academic performance. This is quite essential as it will clarify any misconceptions about the
influence of television on the passes obtained by grade six students, be it negative or positive,
parents can also be guided into being better supervisors and managers of the amount of time
spent by the child watching the television. It will also provide a foundation for which further
studies can be conducted. The Ministry of Education can benefit from the findings in the sense of
creating a policy that encapsulates parents as part of their childrens learning process.
Research Objectives
This Research Paper aims to:
identify the difference in academic performance between a child who often watches tv
Literature Review
The relationships between television viewing and the academic performance of children
and teenagers have been the subject of great controversy. Popular opinion and some educators
have held that television generally has had a detrimental effect; by taking up time that might be
better spent acquiring basic skills or doing homework, by encouraging a preference for quick
solutions and entertaining portrayals that is inconsistent with the sometimes frustrating demands
of schoolwork, and by creating tastes and enthusiasms that draw young people away from
intellectually
demanding
subject
matter.
Television (TV) has its good side. It can be entertaining and educational, and can open up
new worlds for kids, giving them a chance to travel the globe, learn about different cultures, and
gain exposure to ideas they may never encounter in their own community. According to an
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Research Hypotheses:
Null Hypotheses (H0): Watching too much television results in poor academic performance.
Methodology
i.
Research Design
This research will be conducted using a quantitative approach and will be explanatory and
descriptive. The term explanatory implies that the research in question is intended to explain,
rather than simply to describe, the phenomena studied.
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ii.
Population will consist of all grade six students in primary schools within the parish of St.
Catherine. The schools will be listed according to the Ministry of Educations registry. The
sample size will be determined from the attendance register to eliminate interference from other
variables. There will be a margin of error of 5%. The relevance of this population is to provide
a broader scope for capturing a more accurate representation of the general population.
iii.
Conceptualization
extent to which a student, teacher or institution has achieved their educational goals.
Operationalization
For the purpose of this study, TV viewing will be measured at the rational level; how often a
child sits to watch television and the accumulated hours per week. Academic performance will
also be at the Rational Level and will engage the interval measure in presenting the standardized
pass mark, established and accepted by primary schools in St. Catherine.
v.
Identification of Variables
A Flow Chart will be used to show the direction of relationship between the independent and
dependent variables. In this study the relationship is projected to be Associational. This
correlation should show how one variable relates to the other.
vi.
Data Collection
The data will be gathered from the use of Questionnaires, covert observation, and Students
Achievement Records. The information collected from the questionnaires will be matched to
their achievement records for a comparison to be made. A copy of this instrument can be found
in the appendices. The questions will be structured using some open-ended and closed-ended
formats. The questionnaire will be administered at the last phase of the study to prevent the
Hawthorne Effect.
An informed consent from can also be found in the appendices as this will be a requirement that
must be met before students can actually participate in the study.
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vii.
Data Analysis
The researcher will inductively establish a categorical system of organizing the open-ended
information. The data will be analyzed in categories of gender, viewing frequency etc. For the
open-ended questions, the responses will be read through carefully and coded after the event, that
is, code in relation to kinds of answers, themes and issues, and categories of responses.
viii.
Data Presentation
The data will be arranged and presented so that it captures the readers mind and whole attention.
This will be achieved through a series of charts and tables, as seen below:
Bar Charts
Histograms
Information Table
These instruments will present the data in a compact and concise form without losing important
details.
APPENDIX 1
Questionnaire
Good day Participant
My name is Shaniel Reid-Henry, an Undergrad student at the University of the West Indies. I am currently
conducting a study to identify what relation there is between TV viewing and academic performance. The
study is important as the information unearthed will become useful in policies that are designed
concerning your education. This is a voluntary process and as such, you are privileged to withdraw at any
time you desire.
Instructions:
Please do not write your name on the paper as it is not a requirement for this process. All
[ ]
Female [ ]
2. Does your home have a television?
Yes
[ ]
No
[ ]
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9.
______________________________________________________
______________________________________________________
10.
On average, if you do, how many hours a week do you watch of Network/Cable
TV programs on a television at their time of broadcast?
Once per week
[ ]
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[ ]
As often as it shows [ ]
16. Do you have any other comments you'd like to make regarding how you watch TV?
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
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Reference
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