The Academic Achievement of Adolescent Boys in the Child-Welfare System

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to research the intrinsic and extrinsic factors that influence the academic achievement of adolescent boys’ age14-17 in a residential home. The research was conducted at the Methodist Children’s Home Society in Redford, MI. during the summer of 2011. A total of 23 adolescent boys were surveyed and 10 staff members were interviewed. In addition, 15 field observations in the classroom were done. Among the findings arose several categories that included academics, attributions, motivation, home environment, child-welfare system and behavior. The categories were complemented by the boys’ self-reported surveys that were sometimes found to be inconsistent with the staff interviews