95 The Relationship Between Aspects of Socio-Economic Factors Jurnal Pendidikan 33 (2008) 95 - 105 The Relationship Between Aspects of Socio-Economic Factors and Academic Achievement ZAHYAH HANAFI ABSTRACT This study focused on two aspects of family socio-economy, that is, mother’s and father’s educational level and reading materials in the home. Four-hundred thirty form five students from three secondary schools in a district in Kedah were involved in this case study. The findings of this study support previous studies where both parents’ level of education and reading materials available in the home were related to children’s academic achievement. Findings are discussed and suggestions for further study are forwarded. ABSTRAK Kajian ini mengfokuskan kepada dua aspek sosioekonomi keluarga iaitu pendidikan ibu dan bapa dan sumber pembelajaran di rumah. Seramai 430 pelajar tingkatan lima dari tiga buah sekolah menengah di sebuah daerah di Kedah dipilih sebagai responden kajian kes ini. Dapatan kajian ini menyokong kajian lepas yang menunjukkan bahawa tahap pendidikan ibu bapa dan sumber bacaan di rumah mempunyai perhubungan dengan pencapaian akademik anak-anak. Dapatan kajian dibincang dan cadangan kajian lanjutan disarankan. INTRODUCTION Parents’ educational level could play an important role in determining a child’s intellectual performance. It is believed that parents’ educational level may per- haps be the main source of influence that determined a child’s academic achieve- ment (Plomin, Defries & McClearn 1990). Studies have indicated that parents with higher educational level could motivate the intellectual potential within children that may lead them to perform better in school and in return strive for further education (Haveman & Wolfe 1995). For example, parents’ educational level may foster higher parental involvement in adolescents’ school achieve- ment (Benbow & Arjmand 1990; Bogenschneider & Small 1997; Patrikakou 1997), which in turn may influence high school completion (Astone & McLanahan 1991; Haveman, Wolfe & Spaulding 1991; Sandefur, McLanahan & Wojtkiewicz 1992). Educated parents were also found to be able to make constructive deci-