Parental Divorce and Midshipmen Performance at the United States Naval Academy

Abstract

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instruction, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, ABSTRACT (maximum 200 words)This study examines the relationship of parental divorce to the performance of Naval Academy Midshipman. Parental Status was determined by the ACE survey, which is completed in the plebe year. Parent Status of midshipmen is merged with Institutional Research Data to determine effects of parental divorce on midshipmen performance. For the purposes of the study, numerous aspects of performance are measured: (1) academic grade point average, (2) military grade point average, (3) conduct, (4) attrition rates, (5) participation in varsity athletics, and (6) leadership responsibilities. The common expectation is that midshipmen from divorced families will perform lower than midshipmen from intact families. Lower performance was noted in academic and military grade point averages, attrition, and participation in varsity athletics among midshipmen from divorced families. No significant difference in performance was noted in conduct or leadership responsibilities. Submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of NUMBER OF PAGES 81 SUBJECT TERMS MASTER OF SCIENCE IN LEADERSHIP AND HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENTfrom the NAVAL POSTGRADUATE SCHOOL June 2004Author: Allen M. Siegrist