Date Approved

5-2-2007

Embargo Period

3-24-2016

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

M.A. in School Psychology

Department

Educational Services and Leadership

College

College of Education

Advisor

Dihoff, Roberta

Subject(s)

Dress codes; Students--Uniforms

Disciplines

Educational Psychology

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to see what effect school uniforms had on students' academics and behavior. Subjects were seventh and eighth grade students, from a school which recently implemented a uniform policy for the 2006-2007 school year. Their academic and discipline records were collected from the current and previous year. Students from the previous year, who were not required to wear uniforms, were placed in the control group (n=55). Students, who were now required to wear uniforms, were placed in the experimental group (n=55). A t-test for independent samples was run on the data. No significant difference was found. However, it was noted that students in the control group had higher GPA's and lower number of disciplinary referrals than students in the experimental group. Surveys were handed out and completed by nine of the teachers in the school, regarding their perspective on the effectiveness of the uniforms on students' academics and behavior. It was found that the majority of the teachers viewed the uniforms as having a positive effect on the students' behavior but a mixed view on academics. Overall, the majority of the teachers rated the uniforms as very effective. Implications for further research are discussed.

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