Analysis of at -risk student participation in co -curricular activities in reducing discipline referrals

The purpose of this study was to discover if participation in co-curricular activities reduces the number of discipline referrals at-risk students receive. In addition qualitative research investigated if participation in co-curricular activities produced more positive attitudes about school helping to reduce at-risk factors and discipline referrals. Objectives of the study were to (a) discover if discipline referrals varied according to participants and non-participants, (b) discover if discipline referrals varied according to gender of participants and non-participants, and (c) discover, through focus group research, if participation in co-curricular activities produced more positive attitudes about school and how those attitudes related to reducing discipline referrals.;A combined design using quantitative and qualitative procedures was used to better understand the effect of co-curricular activities on lowering the number of discipline referrals. Statistical research design for this study was ex post facto. Data was treated with a chi-squared one-variable test. This "goodness-of fit" technique tested whether or not a significant difference existed between the observed number of discipline referrals falling into each category and the expected number of cases, based on the null hypothesis's. The .05 level of significance was set as appropriate in this study. Descriptive statistics were included to illustrate the individual variables in regards to central tendency and variation.;Analysis of focus group discussions were conducted simultaneously to the data collection. The researcher indicated the overall sense of discussions through notes, a list of topics was kept during discussions, topics were coded, topics were then turned into categories and codes emerge, data was assembled and preliminary analysis took place. Documentation of focus group meetings was conducted through private journal entries and use of recorders.