Masters Theses

Date of Award

12-2001

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Agriculture and Extension Education

Major Professor

Randol Waters

Committee Members

Roy Lessly, Craig Harper, Martha Jo Tolley

Abstract

The Annual 4-H Junior High Wildlife Conference is a youth education program offered to 4-H members that participated in the 4-H Wildlife Project. The study identified three different sample groups to evaluate the benefits and knowledge gained between those who attended the annual 4-H Junior High Wildlife Conference from 1998 through 2000, those who participated in the 4-H Wildlife Project but did not attend the conference, and those who participated in 4-H yet were not involved in the Wildlife Project in any way. The purpose of the study was to look at demographic characteristics of the three different study groups, the perceived benefits of those who attended the wildlife conference, the knowledge of wildlife management and conservation gained from the participants that attended the wildlife conference when compared to the knowledge of the two study groups that did not attend the conference, attitudes concerning wildlife issues between the three study groups, and decisions on career choices. Two separate questionnaires were designed for the study. The questionnaires were mailed to individuals selected for the study. Findings indicated that the majority of individuals in the three respondent groups that participated in the study had very similar demographic characteristics. Most individuals that were involved in 4-H, regardless of their participation in wildlife, resided on a farm, planned to attend college, and were involved in 4-H for 5 or more years. Wildlife conference participants had a positive attitude concerning the wildlife conference. Conference participants perceived the wildlife conference to be an important incentive to be involved in the Wildlife Project and in 4-H. Conference participants felt that they benefited from the wildlife conference since all objectives were meet. Pretest and posttest score were compared over the past three years to determine the difference in knowledge gained before and after participants attended the conference. Test scores from the past three years showed an increase in knowledge gained by participants that attended the wildlife conference. There was no difference between the three respondent groups regarding wildlife knowledge. The 4-H members that were involved in the Wildlife Project but did not attend the conference scored slightly higher on the knowledge test than did the other two groups. Wildlife conference participants in the study group had the second highest mean score. 4-H members with no involvement in the Wildlife Project scored the lowest on the knowledge test. All three respondent groups had similar views concerning wildlife issues. There were only three issues that the respondent groups differed significantly. The three issues that were significantly different concerned hunting, prescribed burning and predation. Wildlife conference participants and Wildlife Project participants that did not attend the conference were more likely to agree that hunting, prescribed burning, and predation are important components of wildlife management than those individuals with no involvement in the Wildlife Project. Wildlife conference participants and individuals that were involved in the Wildlife Project but did not attend the conference were no more likely to choose to enter a wildlife or wildlife related career than those with no involvement in the Wildlife Project. The 4-H Junior High Wildlife Conference should continue to be used as an education program for the benefit of those who attend. The 4-H Wildlife Project should be structured so that it involves nontraditional students with urban backgrounds. To increase knowledge gained by individuals that attend the conference the quiz bowl should continue to be the focal event of the conference. Through competition the quiz bowl created a greater desire for participants to learn more from the conference. Based on these findings an additional study should be designed to determine how the Wildlife Project affects the attitudes of 4-H members regarding issues of hunting, prescribed burning and predation when compared to 4-H members with no involvement in the Wildlife Project. Additional follow-up studies should be conducted periodically to continue to evaluate the knowledge gained and benefits perceived from the 4-H Junior High Wildlife Conference. An additional study should be designed to evaluate life skills such as personal development, citizenship, and vocational skills gained by participating in the Wildlife Project and attending the 4-H Junior High Wildlife Conference. An additional study should be designed to determine if participation in the 4-H Junior High Wildlife Conference leads to participation in other areas of 4-H.

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