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The Effects of Delay of Gratification on the Academic Achievement, Substance Abuse, and Violent Behavior of Middle-School Studen University of Central Florida STARS Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019 2011 The Effects Of Delay Of Gratification On The Academic Achievement, Substance Abuse, And Violent Behavior Of Middle- school Students In Alternative Learning Settings J S. Herndon University of Central Florida Part of the Education Commons Find similar works at: https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd University of Central Florida Libraries http://library.ucf.edu This Doctoral Dissertation (Open Access) is brought to you for free and open access by STARS. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019 by an authorized administrator of STARS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STARS Citation Herndon, J S., "The Effects Of Delay Of Gratification On The Academic Achievement, Substance Abuse, And Violent Behavior Of Middle-school Students In Alternative Learning Settings" (2011). Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2004-2019. 2051. https://stars.library.ucf.edu/etd/2051 THE EFFECTS OF DELAY OF GRATIFICATION ON THE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, SUBSTANCE ABUSE, & VIOLENT BEHAVIOR OF MIDDLE-SCHOOL STUDENTS IN ALTERNATIVE LEARNING SETTINGS by J. STEPHAN HERNDON B.B.A. Stephen F. Austin State University, 1986 M.Ed. Florida Gulf Coast University, 2003 A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education in the College of Education at the University of Central Florida Orlando, Florida Spring Term 2011 Major Professor: Michele Gregoire Gill © 2011 J. Stephan Herndon ii ABSTRACT This study examined the effects of delay of gratification on academic success, substance abuse, and violent behavior. The participants in this study were chosen from an alternative learning school comprised of middle school students in Florida. The hypothesis for this study is as follows: Delay of gratification is negatively related to substance abuse and violent behavior, and positively related to academic achievement. The analysis of the data was conducted on the primary predictor variable (delay of gratification), alternate predictor variables (substance abuse & violent behavior) and the ultimate outcome variable (academic achievement) of this study. Initial statistical inquiry involved descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, kurtosis and skew) of the aforementioned variables, partial correlations (variable interrelationships), and the formulation of a multiple regression path analysis to investigate the particular paths individually within the proposed theoretical model (Wagner, 1993). iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS To my parents for their eternal faith in me and unwavering effort on my behalf. To my beloved Patti for always being there with patience and encouragement. Anything I accomplish in my life is a result of being blessed by their love. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................... vii LIST OF TABLES ....................................................................................................................... viii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION ....................................................................................................1 Statement of the Problem .............................................................................................................1 Purpose of the Study ....................................................................................................................2 Significance of the Study for Theory ...........................................................................................3 Delay of Gratification and Substance Abuse .......................................................................... 4 Delay of Gratification and Violent Behavior .......................................................................... 4 Delay of Gratification and Academic Achievement ............................................................... 4 Significance of the Study for Practice .........................................................................................5 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW .........................................................................................6 Alternative Education ..................................................................................................................6 Defining Alternative Education .............................................................................................. 7 The Growing Need for Alternative Schools ......................................................................... 10 Defining Delay of Gratification .................................................................................................15 Overview of the History of Research on Delay of Gratification ...............................................17 The Proliferation of Delay-Discounting in the Assessment of Gratification Delay ..................22 The Relationship between Delay of Gratification and Academic Achievement .......................26 Delay of Gratification, Substance Abuse, and Violent and Delinquent Behavior .....................33 Delay of Gratification & Substance Abuse ........................................................................... 34 Delay of Gratification & Violent Behavior .......................................................................... 38 Delay of Gratification and Delinquent Behavior .................................................................. 40 Experiments .......................................................................................................................... 43 Longitudinal Studies ............................................................................................................. 45 Interventions ......................................................................................................................... 46 CHAPTER 3: METHOD ...............................................................................................................50 Research Hypothesis ..................................................................................................................50 Participants/Sample Size Justification .......................................................................................50 Measures/Instruments ................................................................................................................51 Convergent Validity of Self-Report Measures ..................................................................... 51 Delay of Gratification ........................................................................................................... 51 Substance Use ....................................................................................................................... 52 Violent Behavior ................................................................................................................... 52 Academic Achievement ........................................................................................................ 53 Demographic Measures ........................................................................................................ 53 v Procedures ..................................................................................................................................53 Data Use, Collection, and Protection .........................................................................................54 Risks/Benefits ............................................................................................................................55 Data Analysis .............................................................................................................................56 Assumptions ...............................................................................................................................56 CHAPTER 4: RESULTS ...............................................................................................................58 Descriptive Statistics ..................................................................................................................58 Frequency Distribution ..............................................................................................................58 Variable Frequencies .................................................................................................................59 Factor Analysis of Predictor Variables ......................................................................................60 Correlations ................................................................................................................................61 Multiple Regression: Path Analysis of the Hypothesized Model ..............................................61 Summary ....................................................................................................................................66 CHAPTER 5: SUMMARY & CONCLUSIONS ..........................................................................67 Summary of Analyses ................................................................................................................67 Implications and Directions of Future Research ........................................................................70 Limitations .................................................................................................................................75 Conclusion .................................................................................................................................77
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