Parental Role Construction and Parental Involvement in Children's Education.

Abstract

Following a model suggesting that parental role construction fills specific functions in the parental involvement process (Hoover-Dempsey and Sandler, 1995; in press), this study examined parents' role construction as it relates to children's schooling. A sample of 74 parents of public elementary school children participated in focused interviews about their involvement ideas and activities. Interview transcripts were analyzed for three components of role construction: (1) parents' values, beliefs, goals, and expectations related to their children's development and education; (2) parents' ideas about their responsibilities and reported behaviors in day-to-day education; and (3) parents' ideas about their responsibilities and reported behaviors related to major decisions in the course of the child's education. Data were also gathered on parents' sense of efficacy in helping their children succeed in school, teacher ratings of parent effectiveness in helping the child, and child achievement. Analyses of over 9,000 coded interview statements suggested systematic patterns of links between the values and behavioral components of role construction, between components of role construction and measures of parental efficacy, and teacher-rated parental effectiveness and child achievement. Cluster analyses revealed varied patterns of role construction associated with higher and lower child achievement. (Four tables and two appendices list statistical results, indicators, and coding scheme. Contains 60 references. (Author) ******************************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * ******************************************************************************** U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) XThis document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. Minor changes have been made to V') improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this 1 document do not necessarily represent 41' official OERI position or policy.