ABSTRACT
The research studies presented in this book attempt to examine the effects of family structure, and especially parental divorce, on the academic achievement of adolescents from a number of different perspectives. This book traces the development of the study of the effects of parental family structure from its incipiency. It will examine the major debates and controversies that surround this field of study. The research presented in this book will investigate the effects of divorce and remarriage using a variety of approaches. It will also examine how other, less common, parental family structures impact the academic outcomes of children. Through it all, one needs to remember that by examining this research, the purpose of this book is not merely to engage in some intellectual exercise. These studies involve the lives of real students and real families. As social scientists examine such issues, it is hoped that the products of all the work in the last century, this century, and beyond, will strengthen students, parents, families, teachers, our nation, and the world.
