Quantity and quality of time devoted to homework in Secondary Education students:An analysis of latent profiles

The main purpose of this study is to identify different profiles of students based on the daily amount of time they spend completing homework and how they manage it. The aim is to test the various combinations shown by the participants regarding the use and management of the time spent on homework, integrating a person-centred approach, and not taking the variables independently. Once these profiles have been identified, defined, and characterised, possible differences in several variables related to homework, such as intrinsic motivation, interest, perceived usefulness, anxiety, and academic performance are analysed. The sample consists of 578 students (49.5% female and 50.5% male) of Compulsory Secondary Education (ESO) from 6 schools in Galicia. The age of participants is between 12 and 16 years old. The results have allowed to identify four student profiles: two of them can be defined as the most adaptive and effective (they manage their time better, are more motivated and have less anxiety about homework) and the other two can be categorised as less effective or more maladaptive (they manage their time worse, are less motivated and have more anxiety about homework). These results call for the differential involvement of teachers to effectively address the needs and characteristics of the four profiles identified.