School uniforms and student academic achievement: an annotated bibliography

Impact of School Uniforms: Annotated Bibliography

Bodine, a.; Brunsma, D.L. & Rockquemore, K.A. (2003). School uniforms, academic achievement, and uses of Research. The Journal of Educational Research, 97(2), 67-77.

One of the popularly held beliefs used to advocate the adoption of school uniforms is that which suggests some active correlation between such uniforms and academic performance. Some of the reasons for this perception relate to the idea that uniforms reduce distractions, social pressures and other intangibles which might be disruptive to the learning process. The article by Bodine et al. (2003) attempts to take on this essentially native theory by evaluating empirical research conducted both to support and refute this claim.

Examining the "claims that uniforms correlate negatively with academic achievement," published in a prior study, Bodine reexamines the prior study's statistical approach and resolves to the contrary that in most instances, the correlation between the two was actually a positive one. Bodine finds a much stronger support to the claim that there is no actual connection between the imposition of uniforms and the academic achievement thereby produced. As the Bodine study tells, "examination of structure of argument reveals that the erroneous claim results from misleading use of sector analysis. Simultaneous with the JER article, and on the basis of the same National Education Longitudinal Study: 1988 database, an Educational Testing Service article reported that no correlation exists between uniforms and achievement." (Bodine et al., 67) the balanced method of investigation strengthens the likely veracity of this finding.

Murray, R. (1997). The Impact of School Uniforms on School Climate. Bulletin, 81(593), 106-112.