The Influence of Internet Access, Study Hours, and Parental Education on Student Academic Performance

A Regression Analysis

Abstract

This quantitative study employs a multiple linear regression approach to analyse the effect of internet access, study hours, and parental education on students’ academic performance. Given the increasingly complex set of factors that determine educational outcomes, the study examines the manner in which these three variables individually and jointly affect student achievement in different educational settings. The data were collected from a representative sample of students; their academic performance was measured through recognised assessment instruments, study hours were self-reported, parental education was grouped by the highest formal qualification attained, and internet access was a binary variable based on whether the household has connectivity. From the regression analysis result, it was indicated that internet access, study hours, and parental education together explain about 46.7% of the variance witnessed in student performance, affirming their significant influence on it; we can infer that internet access enables a student to enjoy an average 8.29-point advantage over students who have no such access. These findings thus underscore the importance of digital inclusion in education today. Additionally, an increase in academic performance of approximately 4.90 points was associated with each extra hour spent studying. However, several other factors served as moderators in this association, including study quality and individual differences in learning effectiveness. Parental education also proved to be a significant predictor, with a 2.27-point increase in student performance recorded for each step up in parental education level, indicating the impact of intergenerational educational capital and the home environment. Thus, the findings suggest the need for interventions that bridge the digital divide, promote evidence-based study strategies, and enhance parental involvement, particularly in families with limited formal education, to foster equitable opportunities and improve student achievement.