The effect of month of birth on the attainments of primary and secondary school pupils
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 5265388 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Martin Mcphillips (0000-0003-0233-6619, Queen's University Belfast, corresponding author), Julie‐anne Jordan‐black (Queen's University Belfast) |
| Year | 2009 |
| Volume | 79 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 419-438 |
| Publication date | 2009-09-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | British Journal of Educational Psychology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0007-0998 • E-ISSN: 2044-8279 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1348/978185408x380199 |
| PMID | 19026113 |
| OpenAlex | W2069099307 |
| ISBN | 978185408 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 12 |
| References cited | 19 |
Background Previous research has produced conflicting results regarding the effects of season of birth and age-position on cognitive attainments. In Northern Ireland the school year divides the summer season into two providing an opportunity to evaluate the relative contribution of season of birth and age-position effects.Aims To investigate the relationship between attainment in literacy skills and month of birth for primary and secondary school pupils and to determine the relationship between motor skills and month of birth in primary school pupils.Sample One thousand one hundred and twenty four primary school pupils participated, and results for key stage 3 (KS3) English and GCSE English Language, for 3,493 Year 10 and 3,697 Year 12 secondary school pupils, respectively, were obtained.Method Primary school pupils were individually assessed using standardised reading and spelling tests, as well as tests of motor skill. They were also assessed using a standardised group reading test in their class groups. For the secondary school pupils, the results for two year cohorts, in KS3 English and GCSE English language, respectively, were analysed.Results For the primary school pupils there was evidence of both a season of birth and an age-position effect on all of the cognitive measures, particularly in the early years of schooling. There was, also, evidence of a significant age-position effect at both KS3 and GCSE in favour of the older pupils. For the younger primary school pupils there was evidence of significant age-position effects on both motor measures.Conclusions The findings from the present study suggest that month of birth may be related to both season of birth and age-position effects. These effects may be compounded, particularly in the early years of primary school, when summer born children are youngest in their year, as in England. In Northern Ireland, age-position effects are also evident in secondary school public examination results, which may have implications for long-term life choices
Cognition · Developmental psychology · Mathematics education · Primary education · Reading (process) · Season of birth · Sociology · Spelling · Test (biology) · Cognitive Abilities and Testing · Demography · Early Childhood Education and Development · Infant Development and Preterm Care · Psychology
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| Unique citing works | 12 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,92 |
| Citation span | 2013 - 2025 (13) |
| Citation velocity | recent |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 10 |