Borne factors in academic achievement

Abstract

The objective of this research was to examine the relationship between academic achievement and home factors in third grade students attending urban and rural schools in Guatemala. The sample consisted of 4,952 students selected at random (52% males and 48% females). Mathematics and reading tests were administered to the students and other associated factors were obtained through a questionnaire. The data was analyzed using two statistical approaches: multiple regression and analysis of multiple correspondence. Results showed that an important percentage of the variance in reading achievement is explained by the variables related to home environment. The rest is probably related to factors associated to the teacher or school per se or by individual characteristics of the students that were not possible to measure.