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Untying the Knot: Review of Personal Research on the Influence of Parental Involvement on Students' Academic Achievement at the Secondary School Level

Author(s):
Shute, Valerie J.; Hansen, Eric G.; Underwood, Jody S.
Publication Year:
2009
Report Number:
RR-09-21
Source:
ETS Research Report
Document Type:
Report
Page Count:
26
Subject/Key Words:
Academic Achievement, Parental Involvement, Parental Influence, Peer Influence, Personality

Abstract

A landmark in this debate was Judith Harris’s 1998 book, The Nurture Assumption, in which Harris argued that parents have little or no influence over the long-term development of their children’s personality or academic success. Other studies have followed, suggesting that parental involvement may not matter as much or in the ways that had been believed. This paper reviews the research literature on the influence of parental involvement on academic achievement, with particular attention to the secondary school level.

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