The Effect of Extracurricular Activities
Mary J. Houser
University of Illinois

Abstract

This research sought to examine and determine the relationship between a student’s involvement in extracurricular activities and their grade point average. The participation of extracurricular activities is defined as being an active participant or member of a club, sport, musical group, or academic group on a student’s education campus. Research was gathered from a multitude of sources and previous research. The data and research has shown that there is a positive relationship between the two factors; as a student’s involvement increases, so does his or her grade point average. To look at this relationship more closely and exact, the relationship between a student’s involvement in high school athletics and their grade point average was examined. Once again, the research said that there is a positive relationship between the two. This research will also look at why these two things have the type of relationship that they do. It goes into some detail about the factors that cause a student’s grade point average and overall success to rise when he or she is more actively involved in their school’s extracurricular activities.

When a student enters high school, the experience of schooling becomes far more than just the academic experience alone. Rather than just having to focus on their schooling, they are immediately exposed to other activities such as clubs, athletic teams, music groups, and many other forms of extracurricular involvement. It is said that, “Extracurricular activities provide a channel for reinforcing the lessons learned in the classroom, offering students the opportunity to apply academic skills in a real-world context, and are thus considered part of a well-rounded education” (O’Brien, Rollefson, 1995). With that being said, this research paper looks at