Development of an Electronic Version of the Homework Performance Questionnaire for Parents

Abstract

Homework is a standard, yet controversial, component of the American educational system. Unfortunately, research on parent perceptions of the efficacy of homework has been limited by a lack of reliable, valid measurement. The present study assessed the structural validity of an electronic version of a newly developed homework performance scale. Participants were 126 parents of students in a rural Illinois school district. A common factor analysis with principal axis extraction and promax rotation was employed. Three salient factors resulted: Student Task Engagement/Efficiency; Student Competence; and Teacher Support. These results indicate that scores on the electronic Homework Performance Questionnaire–Parent Scale (HPQ-PE) have a factor structure similar to the factor structure found previously with the paper-and-pencil version. Given these results, the HPQ-PE has the potential to become a useful tool for improving research on homework and informing the development of homework policies.

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