Graduate Program

Economics

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

2005

Thesis Director

Linda Ghent

Thesis Committee Member

Alan Grant

Thesis Committee Member

Jim Bruehler

Abstract

Previous research on the effect of employment on high school performance has produced inconsistent results. This study investigates the influence of work hours on academic achievement, measured by grade point average (GPA). GPA is chosen because it is a more direct measure of performance in high school than standardized tests. It captures the day-to-day performance of students on everything from homework to quizzes and in-class participation to final examinations.

GPA falls by 0.02 grade points for every ten hours worked. This decrease in academic achievement caused by work may result from the displacement of extracurricular and co-curricular activities by work and work-related commitments. Standardized-test scores, socio-economics status, time spent doing homework, and time spent on extracurricular activities are also found to be positively related to GPA.

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