What Matters for Urban Adolescents’ Engagement and Disengagement in School: A Mixed-Methods Study
This study uses a mixed-method sequential exploratory design to examine influences on urban adolescents’ engagement and disengagement in school. First, we interviewed 22 middle and high school students who varied in their level of engagement and disengagement. Support from adults and peers, opportunities to make choices, and external incentives aligned with greater engagement. In contrast, a strict disciplinary structure, an irrelevant and boring curriculum, disengaged peers, and lack of respect by adults coincided with greater disengagement.
This study uses a mixed-method sequential exploratory design to examine influences on urban adolescents’ engagement and disengagement in school.