Date of Award
2004
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education
Department
Fischler Graduate School of Education and Human Services
Advisor
James R. Davis
Committee Member
Charles Danowski
Committee Member
Barbara Packer
Keywords
absenteeism, achievement, attendance, attendance rates, comparative analysis, control year, data analysis, grade point averages, high school students, incentives, Likert survey, low socioeconomic schools, motivation, rewards, secondary school, statistical significance, student absences, student achievement, student attitudes, student attendance, suburban schools, token economy, trends in attendance, years in school
Abstract
A comparative analysis of an incentive to increase student attendance was conducted within a suburban low socioeconomic secondary school. In addition to comparing attendance rates over a 2-year period, an analysis of students’ grade point averages was also compared to determine if the incentive was effective in increasing students’ achievement. Students’ attitudes toward the use of incentives as a motivator for increasing their attendance were also measured.
Data pertaining to student absences, years in school, and grade point averages were analyzed for statistical significance among 469 high school students. There was no control group. Data were retrieved for 3 years prior to the inception of this study to establish attendance trends. Attendance trends were statistically summarized and presented.
For purposes of this research, the year prior to the offering of the incentive was labeled as the control year. An analysis of the data revealed that there were no significant differences found between the students’ attendance rates and in their grade point averages when the new data were compared to the control year. The attendance rates and the grade point averages decreased slightly during the incentive year.
Upon administration of a Likert survey, students indicated that the concept of rewarding them for attendance was good but will not necessarily improve their grades. Most students agree that it is their responsibility to attend school with or without an incentive. This applied dissertation discussed major findings and the implications of this initiative as well as recommending specific steps to combat rising absenteeism in this setting.