ACTION RESEARCH

Topic: A study of Relationship Between The Parental Pressure And

Students Performance in SSC Board Examinations.
CH.1
1.1 Introduction:
Pupils achievement and adjustments are influenced by many people, processes and
institutions. Parents, the broader family, peer groups, neighborhood influences, schools
and other implicated in shaping childrens progress towards their self fulfillment and
citizenship. The children themselves of course, with propensities play a central role in
forming and reforming their behavior, aspirations and achievements.

IT is widely recognized that if pupils are to maximize their potential from schooling they
will need the support of their parents. Some parents have been actively involved in
enhancing their childrens development and educational progress. Parents almost always
want the best for their children dreams of top colleges, followed by lucrative careers
within a global competitive economy. In order for children to meet these expectations
though they must perform excellent during their school years. In todays scenario, many
parents put intense pressure on their children to earn perfect grades, no matter the high
cost. Parents are all too aware its much more difficult to get into colleges in todays
world. By ramping up the academic pressure, theyre hoping to spare their children, the
disappointment and feelings of failure that may come along with not getting admitted to
college. Unfortunately, many kids collapse under too much parental pressure.

Looking at the current system of Education, the increase in the stress level of the
students, the importance of parents and teachers in the development of the children and

the other aspects of childrens growth, it is very important to find out the relationship
between the pressure and the academic performance of the children. The root cause of
increase in the stress and anxiety level of the students should be brought in knowledge
and accordingly suitable remedial measures are to be taken to solve the problems.

1.2 Need OF The Study:

Education plays a central role in the development of all children. The competition for
admission into higher education has always been fierce. The scores from the
examinations determine the students fate, channeling them into winners and losers.
A great number of parents believe that if their children are to go to a good university, they
have to give them early preparation. Pressure therefore is exerted on the children early in
life, and these continue throughout their school years until the date they take their Board
Examination and make a final decisive dash from a long race.

Double pressure from family has turned many a childs life into one of depression,
nervous breakdown and dissatisfaction. The high pressure of parents on children, the
children started believing that they are not human beings but are some objects or
machines. Some children feels that their parents doesnt really care or feel and think for
them, thus resulting in the increase level of stress even emotionally. Similar is the ease
where the parents actually are ignorant about the educational development of their
children. Such parents dont really care or doesnt take any efforts to educate their
children. The children turn to falling prey to the different crimes, substance abuse, rulebreaking and other wrong doing. Such children have no fear.

Its true the pressure to do well in school and get into a prestigious college is shared by
many children. But, maintaining the mantle of success is a special imperative for the

well-off, for whom expectations are especially high. Thus, there is a great need to find the
solution to combat the parental pressure on the students. The study in this regard will help
in providing the reasons as to why parents lay more pressure on their children, the
increase in the level of pressure or the ignorance of parents attention on childrens
educational development. It is very important to know about the increase in the level of
stress in the children. Due to overpressure, the students take up drastically dangerous
steps such as committing suicides. A study in the regard to know about the effects and
consequences by the increase of parental pressure on the students academic performance
is very important. The children need to be understood. Their capabilities should be known
by their parents and thus expectations are to be kept.

1.3 Statement OF Problem:

A study of relationship between the parental pressure and students performance in the
SSC Board Examinations.

1.4 Review OF Related Literature:

i.

According to Nikhila Henry, TNN, dated march 27, 2014, The Times of India, The
parents push their children to perform well to bag top ranks. In her article, Rising
Incidents of Students Suicides Ring Alarm Bells, different students were
interviewed to understand their stress and anxiety level, the reasons for the same has
been blamed on increasing level of parental pressure on them.

ii.

Shikha Dhall, in her research on A Study of Academic Achievement Among

Adolescents in Relation to Achievement, Motivation and Home Environment,
states that positive home environment is the basic and essential nurturing support
system for all the students. The positive parental involvement and influence the

achievement of academic performance of the students. This research has been

observed in the Journal of All India Association for Educational Research.
iii.

Relationship between Parental Involvement and Achievement of Higher

Secondary Students in Commerce: A study, by Rev. Fr. Dr. S. Amaladoss
Xavier and Dr. Vanitha Anjalin Monika, parental school environment will help to
foster the children interest in schooling and make them develop high academic
performance.

iv.

According to Ankita Chaudhuri, Tnn | Nov 1, 2011, 06.01am in her article

Tender Minds Crushed By Parental Pressure :
All the psychologists that TOI talked to used the same phrase - a "pressure cooker
type situation". When children fail to live up to expectation and find that the only
persons they can turn to for solace - their parents - are also refusing to sympathise
with them, they get trapped in a vortex of emotions that they cannot handle.
The number of suicides and attempted suicides by children is on the rise, say
sources. With 940 suicides by students in 2008, Bengal has earned the dubious
distinction of being the suicide capital of the country. Maharashtra comes next with
757 cases.
"Children are like showpieces nowadays. They are forced to work like machines in
order to make parents feel proud. You will see schoolchildren worrying excessively
and spending sleepless nights, loss of appetite and bouts of depression all of which
lead to suicidal tendencies.

v.

Investigation by Ablard and Parker (1997) in Parents' Achievement Goals and

Perfectionism in Their Academically Talented Children, examined specific
achievement goals that parents have regarding achievement. Children for whom both
parents had a performance goal were more likely than children for whom both
parents had a learning goal to have a combination of high concern about mistakes,
doubts about their actions, parental expectations, and parental criticism. Because of
high parental standards and criticism, these children are likely to experience feelings
of pressure. Given the low percentage of parent pairs with a performance goal for

their children, the findings of this study help to refute the popular belief that the
majority of parents of academically talented children push their children to excel.
These studies contribute to our understanding of the role that parents might play in
their children's academic achievement. In contrast to popular belief, most parents of
academically talented students do not seem to play a detrimental role in their
children's achievement by pressuring them to achieve. These parents, in general, do
not focus exclusively on high academic performance such as grades and test scores.
Even when they do, almost one-half of these parents also focus on understanding of
material and personal improvement in performance. Such a balance, especially when
accompanied with support and guidance, is unlikely to foster feelings of pressure.

1.5 Definitions:
I.

PARENTAL PRESSURE

(A) Parental pressure is defined as the behavior exhibited by parents that are perceived
by their children as indicating high, unlikely or possible even unattainable expectations.
(B) Parental pressure is the pressure or the force that is laid on the students by their
parents. Now a days, parents pressurize their children to study like machines in order to
get excellent grades. The students are not able to leads to increase in their stress and
anxiety level.

II.

ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE OF STUDENTS

(A) Academic performance is the outcome of education the extent to which a student,
teacher or institution has achieved their educational goals.
(B)

Academic performance is basically the measurement of success how well the

students meet the standards set out by the educational bodies. Good academic
performance is believed to provide better and more career choices.

III.

SSC BOARD EXAMINATIONS

The Secondary School Certificate (SSC) Board Examination, also known as 10 th

(A)

Board Exam, is a public examination that is conducted by various boards of education.

1.6 Aim OF The Study:

i.

To explore the impact of parental pressure on the academic performance of the

students of SSC Board Examination i.e. 10th.

1.7 Objectives OF The Study:

1) To find the level of pressure, on the students appearing for std.10 th SSC Board
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)

Examination, by their parents.

To find out the effect of parental pressure on the academic performance.
To change parents perception about the students studies.
To make parents understand the students intellect ability.
To make students knowledge oriented instead of marks oriented.
To find out other ways for improving students performance in academics.

1.8 Scope And Limitations Of The Study:

(A) SCOPE:
This study has been undertaken in reference to the students appearing for SSC Board
Examinations. The research for the study considers only the State Board students of
std.10th and their parents involvement in their educational development.
The study is carried on 30-40 students of std.10th.
The study undertakes students from various schools (SSC Board) in South Mumbai
region.

(B) LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY:

1) The study has been limited to only SSC Board and other boards i.e. ICSE, CBSE, IB,
IGCE etc are not considered.

2) The number of students interviewed and observed is very less i.e. 30-40, thus thw
research findings cannot be assumed on overall number of students.
3) Changing moods of students as well as parents lacked precise findings.
4) The research only considers and undertakes students of std.10 th thus ignoring other
students.
5) The present study is limited to few schools of South Mumbai.

CHAPTER 2: RESEARCH DESIGN

2.1 ) INTRODUCTION
2.1.1] Educational Research
There are almost an endless number of meanings attached to the word research. Research
range from the satisfying of a personal curiosity to a carefully disciplined inquiry
involving very rigid controls. As Robert M. W. Travers has noted, Research has come to
be applied to wide range of activities written in the field of education that it has ceased to
have a single identifiable meaning.
George G. Mouly of the University of Miami denies educational research as The
systematic and scholarly application of educational problem; conversely, any systematic
study designed to promote the development of education as a science can be considered
educational research.
Research can mean re-search implying that the subject matter is already known but, for
one reason or another, needs to be studied again.

2.2] Methodology of Educational Research

It is necessary for a researcher to design a methodology for the problem chosen. One
should note that even if the method considered in the problems is same the

methodology may be different.

It is important for the researcher to know not only the research methods necessary for

the research under taken but also the methodology.

The investigator has adopted experimental method for teaching science.
The investigator initially collected the data from the students and later explained the
concept to the students using experimental method.

2.2.1 Quantitative Research

Quantitative research uses data that is numerical and is based on the assumption that the
numbers will describe a single reality. Statistics are often applied to find relationships
between variables.
Types of Quantitative Research:

Fundamental Research
Descriptive Research
Experimental Research
Action Research

2.2.2 Qualitative Research

Qualitative research uses data which is descriptive in nature. Tools that educational
researchers use in collecting qualitative data include observation, conducting interviews,
conducting document analysis and analysing participant products such as journals,
diaries, images or blogs.
Types of Qualitative Research:

Case study
Ethnography
Phenomenological Research
Narrative Research
Historical Research

2.2.3 Action Research

So much has been spoken regarding Research but question now sprouts out what
exactly do we understand by the term Action Research.
Describing action research as an attempt by the classroom teachers to focus on problems
that they confront, it may be said that action research is to find out practical solution to

complex problems. Action research is thus an attempt made by the teachers to improve
the existing educational practices through self-reflective enquiry.
Action research is research in action. It is a form of school research in which the teachers,
principals and other administrators solve their problem using scientific steps of research.
S. M. Kovey says action research is the process by which practitioners attempt to study
their problems scientifically in order to guide, correct and evaluate their decisions and
actions, is what a number of people have called Action Research.
In the words of Carter V. Good, Action research is a research used by teachers,
supervisors and administrators to improve the quality of their decision action.
Types of Action Research:

Descriptive Action Research

Experimental Action Research
Diagnostic Action Research
Case study Action Research

2.2.4 Educational Survey Method

C. V. Good, A. S. Brar and Douglas E. Scates: It can be well said that no other unified
understanding so fully presents the normative survey method of research in all its various
phases as does the school survey.
Major Steps in Survey Method:

Preparation of plans
Preparation of adequate tools
Questionnaire
Tests
Rating scales
Score cards
Interview schedule
Data gathering
Analysis and interpretation of data

Preparation of the report-recommendations and conclusions

2.3 ] Sampling
H. J. Butcher from the University of Manchester explains the meaning and importance as
when we turn over the top layer of apples on a burrow or outside a green grocers when
we dig a spade full of soil to see if it is heavy or light. When we set an examination paper
to test the progress of a class in all these cases we are practicing a rudimentary kind of
sampling and drawing conclusions about a population from information provided by a
sample.
W. G. Cochran: In every branch of science we lack the resources, to study more than a
fragment of the phenomenon that might advance our knowledge. In this definition a
fragment is the sample and phenomenon is the population. The sample observation are
applied to the phenomenon i.e. generation.

2.3.1. Probability Sampling

It is a method of sampling which gives the probability that a sample is representative of
population. According to G. C. Halmotacites, A probability sample is one that has been
elected in such a way that every element chosen has a known probability. Sampling is
generally used in fundamental research in which the purpose is to generalize the results.
Types of Probability Sampling:

Simple Random Sampling

Systematic Sampling
Stratified Sampling
Cluster Sampling etc.

2.3.2. Non-Probability Sampling

In the absence of any idea of probability, the method of sampling is known as nonprobability sampling. It is generally used in action research in which one studies a close
without any general purpose.

2.4 ] Research Tools

The progress of mankind depends on well conducted research programmes. Well
conducted research programmes postulate sufficient reliable and valid facts. Such facts
are obtained through a systematic procedure which involves various devices and each
data collecting device has both merits and demerits. Each research tool is appropriate in a
given situation to accomplish a particular purpose. It may be stressed that these tools
must be used in combination. They supplement the work of each other.
John best observes, Like the tools in the carpenters box, each research tool is
appropriate in the given situation to accomplish a particular purpose. Each data gathering
have merits and demerits or limitation.

Types of Research Tools

1.

Questionnaire:

Good thinks that questionnaire is a form prepared and distributed to secure responses to
certain; as a general rule these questions are factual, intended to obtain information about
conditions or practices of which the respondent is presumed to have knowledge. It has
been used increasingly to inquire into options and attitude of the group.
Good and Hatt thinks, In general the words questionnaire refers to a device for securing
answer to questions by using a form which the respondent fills in him.
Barr, Davis and Johnson define it as A systematic compilation questions that are
submitted to a sampling of population from which information is desired.

CHP-3 DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS

3.1
The data has been individually collected from the parents as well as students point of
view. These questions were asked in order to find the relationship between parental
pressure and the students appearing for the SSC board examinations. Table 3.1 has two
main columns ie. One of the parents and the other is of students. This table shows the
effect of parental pressure on students. Equal numbers of respondents are surveyed. Both
parents and students are serially numbered from 1-25.

Table: 3.1 ]
PARENTS QUESTIONNAIRE
Sr..no
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23

40
34
29
51
48
44
32
42
52
48
49
51
50
51
42
51
53
38
47
51
51
36
40

STUDENTS QUESTIONNIARE
Sr..no
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23

44
53
42
50
46
49
47
43
48
48
49
48
44
46
53
47
53
45
48
48
47
52
41

24
25

40
56

24
25

53
48

Table 3.1 presents the population profile and number of respondents per. It gives the
information about the aggregate views of both the parents as well as the students.25
parents and students have been the subjects for finding out the parental pressure on the
students .this table also gives information of the extent to which academic performance of
the students are affected under parental pressure. It presents the means and
standard deviations of the susceptibility to peer pressure variables, which
were reported by the SSC students.

Fig.- 3.2 ] : (A)

50
40
30
20
10
0

PARENTS

MEAN

Fig. 3.2 ] : (B)

STUDENTS

S.D.

80
70
60
50
40

STUDENTS

30
20

PARENTS

10
0
MEAN

S.D.

Table - 3.2 :

PARENTS
STUDENTS

MEAN
29
41

S.D.
7.311
3.424

INTERPRETATION :
The above table and graph shows the average mean and standard deviation of the data
which has been collected from the parents and the students. This tabulation is carried out
to find out the relationship between the parental pressure on the students. The mean value
of parents is 29 and that of students is 41. This indicates that, the parents do not
pressurize their students and nor are the students bothered about their parents pressures.
The students are completely ignorant and so are the parents . With these results, the
researchers found out that there is no relationship between the parental pressure and the
students academic performance.

CHP-4 FINDINGS AND CONCLUSION

4.1 (a) FINDINGS :

Parents do not pressurize students for the improvement of their academic
performance.
Students are ignorant about the parents pressure on them.
There is no significant impact of the parental pressure on the students academic
performance.
Parents and students contradict each other when it comes to education .
Most students want to decide their own career and their parents support them for
the same.
Students have to study for long hours to fulfill parents requirements.

4.1 (b) CONCLUSION :

Considering todays scenario , it can be concluded that the parents tries to provide most
liberal and soothing atmosphere for their children to study. The increase in students
suicides cases as well as many other behavioral changes taken place in students have
made the parents more conscious with their approach and attitudes towards them. The
students have become ignorant about their parents expectations from them. They want to
choose their own careers and wants parents support for the same. This study shows that
there is no relation between parental pressure and the students academic performance.
This may be due to lack of interest on both the parents as well as students . The increase
in democratic atmosphere at home is a broad minded concept undertaken by parents that
helps to increase the students confidence as well as their willingness to become
independent.
From the findings it can be concluded that the effects of the parental influence on the
child are both negative and positive. This include lack of proper counseling,
unwillingness to reason with the child, students uncooperative stand, illiteracy etc. the
researcher has verified the various findings and come to a conclusion that if the problem

mentioned above are solved the students will have a sustaining interest towards a better
life span career.

4.2 SUGGESTIONS :
The study is aimed at finding the effect of parental influence on the students academic
performance in the SSC board examinations.

4.3 RECOMMENDATIONS :
To the students
Most of the students at this age made unwise decision simply because they are
neglected to listen to advice of others. Some decisions will have significant
consequences. Therefore they should try to determine ahead of time what these will be.
They should be aware of letting the appeal of short team benefit blind them to possibly
undesirable long-time consequences.
Students should their listen to their parents and give them there strong side as well as
their weak side.
To the parents

The issue of improving performance is not an easy task . So much thinking, much
homework, home tutorial etc should be done in order to lead the student on the right path
the first thing parents should do is arouse the students interest towards a better choice of
career. Since no two situations are exactly alike, two people may not always make an
identical decision when facing similar problems. Still it is helpful to hear how others. Ask
them how they evaluate their decision and what they think will be the benefit of their
choice the parent should be appreciative for some good things of their children by giving
words of encouragement of some better achievement were attain as well as not

condemning them, bear with them when they do something wrong especially as it
involves future plan.
The students should be allowed to contribute to the subject as it involves their own lives.
This will give the students opportunities of discovering for themselves new truth, new
methods of tracking problems .