Relationships between personal and family characteristics of selected Tennessee farm families, contacts with extension, and their use of selected family financial management practices

Author

Janie Elizabeth Pedigo

Date of Award

12-1992

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Agriculture and Extension Education

Major Professor

Roy R. Lessly

Committee Members

Cecil Carter Jr, Etta Mae Westbrook

Abstract

The major purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between personal and family characteristics of Tennessee farm families, their contacts with Extension, and their use of selected family financial management practices. Information from this study can be useful in providing baseline data and areas of need for future Extension programs in family financial management.

Data were obtained and limited to the 1987 University of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service Family Financial Management Survey. Seven hundred fourteen surveys were returned by mail from 3,300 surveys originally mailed and were limited to farm families in the 95 Tennessee counties. The population of the survey was identified with the assistance of the Tennessee Crop Reporting Service. A random sample was used and the "Nth" number technique identified persons in the survey study.

The chi square (X²) test was used to determine the strength of the relationships between independent and dependent variables. The .05 level of probability was accepted as being statistically significant. Data were analyzed by the University of Tennessee Computing Center.

The major findings include the following:

1. The majority of the respondents were between the ages of 51-65, were part-time farmers, had an annual income of $20,000 to $50,000, and had only two family members living at home.

2. Of the 27 family financial management practices, 16 were significantly related to age. Younger farm families (aged 50 and under) were more likely than older families (age 51-65 and 66 and over) to use 8 of the 27 practices.

3. Annual income was significantly related to 21 of the 27 family financial management practices. Those with incomes of $20,000 and over annually were more likely to use 20 of the 27 family financial management practices at higher levels than those making less than $20,000 annually.

4. Satisfaction with the way money is managed was significantly related to 15 of the 26 family financial management practices. Families who were satisfied with money management used 15 of the 26 selected family financial management practices. Those who were dissatisfied were more likely to use credit and to contact creditors if a disagreement existed between receipts and statements.

5. Families' identification of goals was significantly related to 26 of the 27 family financial management practices. Those families who identified goals appeared to use the practices at higher levels than those who did not identify goals; however, the similarity of the independent and dependent variables may cause bias. Therefore, the reader should interpret with caution.

6. The number of Extension contacts was significantly related to 21 of the 27 selected family financial management practices. Those with 1-6 contacts tended to use 21 of the 27 practices at higher levels than those with no contacts from Extension.

Implications and recommendations for further studies were also presented.

Recommended Citation

Pedigo, Janie Elizabeth, "Relationships between personal and family characteristics of selected Tennessee farm families, contacts with extension, and their use of selected family financial management practices. " Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, 1992.
https://trace.tennessee.edu/utk_gradthes/7007