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Research Report 1

Running Head: ANALYSIS OF TELEVISION AND MATHEMATICS

The Influence of Television on Mathematic Proficiency by Gender and Free Lunch

Irene Jones

SOWK300-01 TTH

Ms. McArthur

February 24, 2012

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Research Report 2

Abstract:

The data used in the research report came from the SPSS NELS88.DAT File. The information

for the bivariate and multivariate hypothesis came from the dependent variable, independent

variable, and the two control variable. The respondents were asked questions dealing with the

number of hours children watch and how it has an affect on the overall test scores. Both control

variables dealing with the respondents of sex and percentage of free lunch will be analyzed in

more details throughout the research report. After both hypothesis then the rationale which

explains on the reasons I feel why my hypothesis is correct. Another important section is the

discussion at the end which gives the final explanation on weather my hypothesis is correct.

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Research Report 3

Hypothesis:

The number of hours students watches television has a affect on the overall

mathematics proficiency test schools of eighth graders. There are two variables in the bivariate

table. The independent variable is the number of hours student watches television has four values

which is the. The Values from one through four were: Dont watch television, between one

three hours, between four four-five hours, and five hours or more. The dependent variable is the

overall math proficiency test scores which have four values also. The four values consist of

scores that are: Below level 1, level 1, level 1 &2, and all 3 levels.

In this study, there are two control variables that show the number of hours students

spends watching television, and how it affects the overall mathematics proficiency test scores

concerning eighth graders. The control variable for one is the sex respondents with the values of

male and female. The other control variable is the percentage of students who receives free lunch

in the school system with four values, 0-10%, 11-30%, 31-75%, and 76-100%. The number of

hours student watches television brings about change in the overall mathematics proficiency test

scores between female and male. More likely Females watch television less than male and have

higher test scores.

Rationale:

There has been a concern on whether to much TV and its affect on the poor test scores in

the school system. A child will rather watch television than to study or do homework. But a child

who takes education series it is proven that child would watch less TV and focus on his/her

studies. From recent research, more females are enrolled in school more than male. 90% of the

time households including mines females are pushed more than a male to further their education.

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Research Report 4

Which brings me back to the multivariate hypothesis with the control variable of sex, Females

are more likely to watch less TV than males and receive higher test scores.

From what I can remember people who received free or reduced lunch was because of the

parents and their household income. According to School lunch National Program, Children

from families with incomes at or below 130 percent of the poverty level are eligible for free

meals. Those with incomes between 130 percent and 185 percent of the poverty level are eligible

for reduced-price meals. Also according to Fahsholtz, socioeconomic status has an affect on

whether which child receives free or reduced lunch. Students with low test scores usually have

no body to really push them to do work in the home. They also usually have low income which

qualifies them for free or reduced lunch.

Results:

Table 1Hours of Television by Overall Test Scores of R (%)

Rs Hours of TV

BY3xmpro Do notwatchTV

1-3hours

4-5hours

5+hours

Totals

Below Level 1 15.3 13.0 10.8 12.7 12.1

Level 1 38.3 27.5 30.0 35.6 32.4

Level 1 and 2 19.2 22.8 26.3 26.0 25.3

All 3 Levels 27.2 36.7 32.9 25.7 30.2

Totals 5.3 14.7 39.1 40.9 100.0

(N) (287) (799) (2121) (2215) (5422)

Source: SPSS NELS88.DAT FILE

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Research Report 5

Table 2Hours of Television by Overall Test Scores of R (%)

Controlling for Rs Gender (%)

Television Hours of R

BY3xmpro Do NotWatch TV

1-3 hours 4-5 hours 5+ hours Totals

Male Respondents

Below Level 1 14.0 12.0 10.8 14.6 12.7

Level 1 43.0 24.2 25.7 32.4 29.1

Level 1 and 2 16.5 21.5 29.0 25.9 26.0

All 3 Levels 26.4 42.4 34.5 27.1 32.1

Totals 4.7 14.4 38.2 42.6 100.0

(N) (121) (368) (976) (1088) (2553)

Female Respondents

Below Level 1 16.5 13.5 10.8 11.0 11.6

Level 1 34.1 30.5 33.9 38.7 35.3

Level 1 and 2 21.3 24.3 23.8 25.8 24.5

All 3 Levels 28.0 31.7 31.5 24.5 28.6

Totals 5.8 14.9 40.0 39.2 100.0

(N) (164) (423) (1133) (1111) (2831)

Source: SPSS NELS88.DAT FILE

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Research Report 6

Table 3Hours of Television by Overall Test Scores of R (%)

Controlling for Rs Free Lunch (%)

Television Hours of R

BY3xmpro Do NotWatch TV

1-3 hours 4-5 hours 5+ hours Totals

0-10 Free Lunch

Below Level 1 6.3 6.3 6.7 9.0 7.3

Level 1 24.1 13.5 20.8 27.5 21.8

Level 1 and 2 21.5 26.1 25.7 27.8 26.2

All 3 Levels 48.1 54.1 46.8 35.6 44.7

Totals 7.7 20.2 39.5 32.6 100.0

(N) (79) (207) (404) (334) (1024)

11-30 Free Lunch

Below Level 1 9.1 10.9 8.1 8.6 8.7

Level 1 54.5 16.8 26.0 28.5 26.9

Level 1 and 2 9.1 24.4 25.4 29.4 26.2

All 3 Levels 27.3 47.9 40.4 33.5 38.2

Totals 4.0 14.5 40.6 40.9 100.0

(N) (33) (119) (334) (337) (823)

31-75 Free Lunch

Below Level 1 10.0 6.7 9.4 12.4 10.3

Level 1 43.3 30.0 29.6 33.9 32.2

Level 1 and 2 16.7 20.0 22.9 25.5 23.2

All 3 Levels 30.0 43.3 38.1 28.3 34.3

Totals 5.1 15.2 37.5 42.3 100.0

(N) (30) (90) (223) (251) (594)

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Research Report 7

76-100 Free Lunch

Below Level 1 20.9 12.4 9.3 14.8 12.4

Level 1 39.5 30.5 31.9 32.2 32.2

Level 1 and 2 18.6 25.7 29.0 23.7 26.0

All 3 Levels 20.9 31.4 29.8 29.3 29.4

Totals 4.7 11.5 42.5 41.4 100.0

(N) (43) (105) (389) (379) (916)

Source: SPSS NELS88.DAT FILE

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Research Report 8

Discussion:

It has been mentioned that because of the amount of television being watched it has a big

affect on the poor test scores. The bivariate hypothesis states that eight graders who watches

numerous hours of television has a affect on their overall mathematics test scores. In the data

presented, 27.2% of children who do not watch television had higher test scores, and 25.7% of

eight graders who watch television for five or more hours, scored lower. But the highest

percentage of eight graders who exceeded all three levels scored at 36.7%, these students watch

less than one hour to two hours of television.

One of the multivariate hypothesis states that females who watch less television has

better proficiency scores than males do. Well in the data it is proven that 28% of women that do

not watch television have proficiency scores on all three of the levels, unlike the males which

were 26.4%. But, it is also proven that 42.2% of males who watch less than one hour to two

hours of television scored on all three levels compared to the 31.7% of women in the same

category. Another example, Males who watches five or more hours of TV still scored 27.1% in

all three levels category, unlike the females who scored lower at 24.5%. From the data

information it has be prove that females perform better on their mathematic exams when they do

not watch television at all. Also from the results the multivariate hypothesis Students with low

test scores usually have no body to really push them to do work in the homes. They also usually

have low income which qualifies them for free or reduced lunch.Well, from the data presented,

48.1% of students scored on all three levels in the zero to ten percentile receive free lunch

compared to 35.6% who scored on all three levels who watched five or more hours of television

who received free lunch.

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Research Report 9

To conclude, the results proved that two out of three of my hypothesis was

correct. The bivariate hypothesis stated that the numerous hours television being watched does

has an affect on the poor results in the eighth graders mathematic proficiency test scores. One of

the multivariate hypotheses was also proved that females received higher test scores than male

watching less TV. But the multivariate dealing with the percentage of students who receive free

lunch wasnt proven. Instead the data shows that both kids who scored higher or lower on the test

scores can either receive free or reduced lunch. The data shows that the children who scored

lower than the ones that scored higher can do better if they take it more serious and watch less

TV and study more.

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Research Report 10

References:

Glovinsky-Fahsholtz, D. (1992). The Effect of Free or Reduced-Price Lunches on the

Self-Esteem of Middle School Students.Adolescence, 27(107), 633-38.

US Department of, A. (2009). National School Lunch Program. US Department Of Agriculture,

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Research Report 11

Appendix:

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Research Report 12

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Research Report 13

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Research Report 14

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Research Report 15

11-30 free Lunch

31-75 free lunch

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Research Report 16

76-100 free lunch

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Research Report 17