SU. Suba Lukshmi and T. Lavanya
University of Madras, Chennai.
Pages:, 399-409
This study intends to explore and understand the impact of comparisons parents do in
terms of their child’s academic performance against another child (comparison target).
The following objectives were formulated 1. To find out the percentage of parents engage
in academic comparison. 2. To find out the parent who often engages in academic
comparison. 3.To elicit the various comparison targets chosen by the parents. 4. To
understand the perception of the child regarding the motive of their parent’s academic
comparison. 5. To bring out the thoughts and feelings of the child when their parents
engage in academic comparison. Qualitative research design was adopted and the 35
samples were selected using convenience sampling technique. Data was collected
using structured interviews, the responses were analyzed using thematic analysis
technique. The results reveal that 43% of the sample report that they are being compared
academically by their parent with a comparison target; mothers compare children
more than fathers; the comparison targets in our culture are identified.