The Dynamics of Family Structure and Its Impact on Educational Achievement

Title: The Dynamics of Family Structure and its impact on Educational Achievement

A Paper Presented in partial Fulfillment

Of the Requirements of HS817 Social Systems

April 16, 2007

Abstract

This paper will examine the effects of family structure and its influence on educational achievement. The link between family structure and educational achievement suggests that children living in nuclear families are more successful academically. Research has consistently shown that family structure can facilitate or limit the ways in which parents are able to positively influence the future educational outcomes of their children. Family influences on children’s educational achievement are evident throughout literature; it has been shown that the influences of family structure impacts children’s academic success across grades, gender, and ethnic groups (Marchant, G. J., Paulson, S. E., and Rothlisberg, B. A., 2001).

Table of Contents

Table of contents ii

Introduction 1

Define Family Structure 1

Family/Parental Involvement Impact on Education 2

Literature For and Against Family Structure and its impact on Education 4

Significance of Family from System Theory Approach 5

Bronfenbrenner’s Ecological Theory of Development 5

Conclusion and Relevance 6

References 8

Introduction Research on family structure has generally shown a connection between non-traditional family structure

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