An analysis of selected student characteristics and student participation in school activities in selected Nebraska high schools

High school student participation in school activities was examined in selected Nebraska schools. Selected student characteristics were studied in relationship to the amount of time spent in school activities. A non-experimental method (ex post facto research) was incorporated in the study. Two hundred ninety high school students in three Nebraska high schools were selected using a stratified sampling technique. Background characteristics and the amount of activity participation of the sampled students were obtained through student records, interviews with principals and counselors, and student questionnaires. Each of the three high schools was analyzed separately and analyzed as a combined unit. An analysis of variance and multiple regression procedure was used to analyze the data in terms of relationships among variables in the study. Correlational statistics allowed for the scores of predictor variables to correlate the relationships to the criterion variable. The analysis of the data found that specific predictor variables did have positive correlational results with the amount of student participation in school activities. The analysis also found that when predictor variables were combined in the process of multiple regression that the grade point average of a student was the best predictor for student participation in school activities. Students in all three high schools demonstrated that grade point average was significant for prediction purposes of participation in student activities. In addition, the number of school absences had a significant correlation with the amount of student participation in school activities. Students that were more likely to be in school were also more inclined to participate in school activities. The sex and grade level of a student also had a relationship to the amount of student participation in activities. Male students participated in activities at the highest level in the tenth grade and declined in participation for each of the next two years. Females had their lowest participation in activities also during their last year in high school