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Ethnicity, drug user status and academic performance
1Freeport Public Schools, New York, USA.
Adolescence
|January 1, 1997
Summary
This study examined how drug use and race affect student academic performance. Findings indicate both race and drug use significantly impact school achievement, with notable differences among ethnic groups.
Area of Science:
- Educational Psychology
- Sociology of Education
- Substance Abuse Research
Background:
- Student academic performance is influenced by various demographic and behavioral factors.
- Understanding the interplay between race, drug use, and educational outcomes is crucial for targeted interventions.
- Previous research has explored these factors independently, but a combined analysis is needed.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of drug use and race on the academic performance of high school students.
- To determine if race and drug use status interact to affect school achievement.
- To identify specific patterns of impact across different racial/ethnic groups.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective data collection from 100 students in Grades 9-12.
- Utilized a researcher-devised questionnaire for data gathering.
- Academic achievement measured by recent grades and standardized test scores (Metropolitan Achievement Test).
- Analysis focused on a subset of 38 students (11 black, 18 white, 9 Latino).
Main Results:
- Significant main effects of both race (p < .05) and drug user status (p < .05) on academic performance were found.
- Evidence suggested an interaction between race and drug user status.
- Black students who used drugs and those who did not showed no significant academic differences.
- White and Latino students exhibited notable differences in academic performance based on drug user status.
Conclusions:
- Both race and drug use are significant predictors of academic performance in adolescents.
- The impact of drug use on academic achievement varies across racial and ethnic groups.
- Interventions addressing drug use and academic support should consider racial and ethnic specificities.
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