Homework’s Effect on Academic Achievement: Is There Any?

Jason Yockel, St. John Fisher College

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the completion of homework, or lack thereof, has any effect on achievement. In the literature, homework is defined and looked at from its positive and negative effects. Then, the purposes of homework are discussed from the views of the three main factions involved – students, parents, and teachers. The discussion then turns to the factors that can increase motivation to do homework and where student beliefs originate. Finally, parent involvements in these beliefs are looked at and a possible remedy to the homework problem (differentiation) is discussed. Upon gathering data, the researcher concluded that there was not a significant relationship between homework completion and assessment results. While certain subgroups had a higher correlation than others, none were so high as to indicate a definitive relationship.