Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-1982

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Agricultural Extension

Major Professor

Cecil E. Carter Jr

Committee Members

Robert S. Dotson, Martha Jo Tolley

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to compare eighth grade 4-H members and nonmembers from two junior high schools in Bradley County, Tennessee according to personal and family backgrounds, reasons for membership and nonmembership in 4-H, their opinions about the image of 4-H, parental involvement in 4-H, and participation in 4-H and other youth activities.

The population of the study consisted of 633 eighth grade boys and girls who were present at school on the days that the questionnaires were administered. Information was secured by the completion of a questionnaire.

The Chi square (X2) test was used to determine the significance of observed differences between 4-H members and nonmembers. The analysis of variance F test also was used to determine significance of the relationships. Values that achieved the .05 level were considered to be statistically significant.

Significant findings of this study were:

1. Significantly larger percentages of 4-H members than nonmembers indicated that they would join 4-H the next year if meetings were held during school hours.

2. A greater percentage of 4-H members than nonmembers indicated that they would join 4-H the next year if meetings were held after school hours. However, only a small percentage of both members and nonmembers would join 4-H if meetings were held after school hours.

3. A significantly greater percentage of members than non-members reported parental interest in the 4-H club.

4. A significantly greater percentage of members than non-members cited the following reasons for young people remaining enrolled in 4-H; the learning experiences will make them a better person; the meetings are fun and interesting; 4-H helps youth to become leaders; 4-H will help youth to become better citizens; and most of their friends are enrolled in 4-H.

5. A significantly greater percentage of nonmembers than 4-H members cited the following reasons for young people dropping out of 4-H: too much record keeping, boring meetings and activities requiring too much time.

6. Significantly greater percentages of 4-H members than nonmembers cited the following opinions about the image of the 4-H club: 4-H is a club in which youth learn about farming; 4-H is a club in which youth learn about homemaking; 4-H is a club in which a young person could become a leader; 4-H is a fun club; 4-H is a club in which youth can earn trips; 4-H is a club that will help a young person in the future; 4-H is a great club to be a member of; 4-H is not a waste of time; 4-H is not just a club for kids; 4-H is a club in which youth can earn college scholarships; youth have interest in taking special trips on Saturdays and during summer months; 4-H club work is not boring; and 4-H is a club about which young people have some information.

7. Significantly higher percentages of members than nonmembers indicated that parents had assisted with 4-H by providing transportationVI to a 4-H event, by attending a 4-H meeting, by helping 4-H member with a project and by providing transportation for other 4-H members to attend a 4-H event.

8. Significantly greater percentages of members than nonmembers reported that their parent(s) had been a member of a club(civic, church, or social).

9. Significantly greater percentages of 4-H members than non-members indicated they had served as a club officer, was a member of a district 4-H judging team, had entered 4-H breadbaking contest, had entered a 4-H poster contest, had entered a 4-H public speaking contest, gave a demonstration for a contest, had entered a district 4-H contest, attended 4-H camp and was a member of a 4-H project group.

10. Significantly greater percentages of members than non-members indicated that they had won a 4-H ribbon, had entered an item at county demonstration day and had both read and answered the questions in a 4-H project book.

11. Significantly greater percentages of 4-H members than non-members had been members of the school paper and/or school yearbook staffs and/or had been members of an organized sports team.

12. Significantly greater percentages of members than nonmembers indicated they had interest in being on the radio, attending a 4-H contest in Chattanooga, being a member of a 4-H judging team, completing a 4-H record book, attending 4-H trips out of the county, attending weekend 4-H camps in Crossville, receiving 4-H academic credit, and attending 4-H meetings at night rather than during the day.

13. A significantly greater percentage of members than non-members, though small percentage, indicated that an Extension agent had visited their home.

14. Respondents who reported they planned to join 4-H next year had been in 4-H a significantly greater number of years, had participated in significantly greater numbers of 4-H activities and had significantly higher scores on opinions about 4-H.

15. Respondents who gave yes responses to the following had been in 4-H a significantly greater number of years, had participated in significantly greater numbers of 4-H activities and had significantly higher scores on opinions about 4-H: had knowledge about a 4-H project; knew the location of the 4-H club meeting; 4-H projects sounded interesting; parent(s) expressed interest in the 4-H club; liked to compete for awards; had some knowledge about the 4-H club; had an interest in taking special 4-H trips; indicated that ninth grade meetings were fun and interesting; a 4-H Extension agent had visited their home; had read and answered the questions in a 4-H project book; and that the 4-H club was not boring to them.

16. Those youth who usually made A's and B's had participated in significantly greater numbers of 4-H activities.

17. Those respondents who had brother(s), sister(s), mother or father who had been enrolled in 4-H had been enrolled in 4-H a significantly greater length of time, had participated in a greater number of 4-H activities and had higher scores on opinions about 4-H.

18. Those youth who lived on a farm, had been enrolled in 4-H a significantly greater length of time and had participated in a significantly greater number of 4-H activities.

19. Those youth who had fathers employed in farming had been enrolled in 4-H the longest number of years.

20. Those youth who listed their father's employment as education had particpated in the greatest number of 4-H activites.

21. Those respondents who had participated in the following events had been a 4-H member a significantly greater number of years and had significantly higher scores on opinions about 4-H: served a a 4-H club officer, entered a 4-H breadbaking contest, entered a 4-H poster contest, entered a 4-H public speaking contest, gave a demonstration for a contest, entered a district 4-H contest, attended 4-H camp and was a member of 4-H project group.

22. Likewise, those respondents who had won a 4-H ribbon and who had received a medal or award at the achievement program had been a 4-H member a significantly greater number of years and had significantly higher scores on opinion about 4-H.

Implications and recommendations also were included.

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