The Importance of Homework: A Study of Arab Students׳ Perceptions in Israeli Schools

Yousef Methkal Abd Algani and Amal Sharif- Rasslan

Homework is ubiquitous for students everywhere. Analyses of the role of homework in connection with the school system have supported its importance. Parents and teachers, along with other factors, impact the manner in which students do homework. This study was conducted among Arab students at junior-high and high-schools in Israel. The study focused on the students׳ motivation for doing homework and their beliefs regarding the importance of homework. Furthermore, the study examined whether the students׳ motivation improved as they graduated from one grade to the next and questioned whether there was a gender difference in the motivation to do homework. The study was based on a quantitative method using two questionnaires with 26 items. The sample consisted of 501 students (seventh to tenth graders) from Arab schools in Israel. The findings of the study indicated that the role of teachers and parents in motivating students to do homework was vital. In addition, the study showed that age, gender differences, and the importance of studying that accompanied the maturation process, all impacted the internal and external motivating factors. The study highlighted the role of teachers, parents and the educational system in bolstering students׳ motivation and convictions regarding homework as a major aspect of their learning process.

Keywords: Motivation, Gender, Homework, Study, Education, Teachers, Parents, Age, Beliefs.