School Environments and Student Achievement: Toward a Framework for Understanding Environmental Influences

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Date

1990

Authors

Stockard, Jean
Mayberry, Maralee

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

JAI Press Inc.

Abstract

Most of the literature on the effect of environmental variables on student achievement can be understood by utilizing two broad-ranging, key variables presented in theoretical examinations of environmental or contextual effects: (1) the nature of a group's norms and values, and (2) the relationships among the group members. The norms and values of the group may be linked to distinctions between instrumental activities, those oriented toward task completion and expressive activities, and those oriented toward promoting socioemotional integration of the group. The relative balance between these activities and their content are influenced by the nature of group relations. The analysis presented here provides an analytical description capable of identifying the structural boundaries of these influences. This paper first provides a review of the literature, acknowledging the importance of four key environmental influences on student achievement - student groupings, learning climates, school facilities and size, and the community environment. Second, this paper shows how this literature can be integrated into a conceptual model capable of specifying the structural elements of environmental influences on student achievement.

Description

28 pages

Keywords

school environments, environmental influences, academic achievement, student attitudes, literature, learning climates

Citation

Stockard, Jean and Maralee Mayberry. 1990. School Environments and student Achievement: Toward a Framework for Understanding environmental Influences. Pp. 123-150 in Advances in Research and Theories of School Management and Educational Policy, Vol 1.

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