Graduate Program

Communication Studies

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

Spring 2025

Thesis Director

Angela S. Jacobs

Thesis Committee Member

Chigozirim U. Sodeke

Thesis Committee Member

Elizabeth Gill

Abstract

This study examines the influence of family-school communication on students' academic success in the context of Ghana, with a particular focus on Junior High School (JHS) students. While existing research emphasizes the importance of family involvement in educational outcomes, limited studies explore how family-school communication directly affects academic success in Ghana. By using a mixed-methods approach, the study combines quantitative and qualitative data collection. The quantitative component includes an online survey distributed to JHS graduates, assessing the frequency, impact, methods, and barriers of communication between families and schools, as well as their perceived effect on academic performance. The survey includes 21 participants: 7 teachers, 7 students, and 7 family members, selected through convenient sampling. The qualitative data consists of in-depth interviews with students, families, and teachers to explore their personal experiences and perceptions of family-school communication. The findings are organized into three main themes: communication methods and frequency, the impact and barriers of communication, and dialogic communication processes. This study contributes to the existing literature on educational communication and provides practical recommendations for enhancing family-school collaboration in Ghanaian schools.

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