Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-1975

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Agricultural Extension

Major Professor

Cecil E. Carter Jr.

Committee Members

Robert S. Dotson, Anna Lucus

Abstract

This study was concerned with factors relating to enrollment, participation, organization and leadership of Explorer 4-H Club members in Tennessee. A data collection instrument was developed by State 4-H Club Specialists for use by county Extension Agents in preparation of county five-year plans of work. The study purpose was to determine the influence of 4-H Volunteer Leaders' Organizations, 4-H County Council, 4-H Citizens' Committees and 4-H Project Groups on enrollment, participation, organization and leadership of fourth grade audiences in 4-H Club work. Twenty-seven variables were identified and used as a bases for comparing counties with and counties without a Volunteer 4-H Leaders' Organization, a 4-H Council, a 4-H Citizens' Committee and Explorer project groups. The t test was used to determine the significance of observed differences in Explorer enrollment, parti-cipation, organization and leadership between counties where certain patterns of leader organization existed and counties not having such patterns. The Pearson Correlation Coefficient was used to determine relationships between the number of volunteer organizational leaders, project leaders, and activity leaders for Explorer members and variables regarding Explorer members' enrollment, participation, and organization. Other variables regarding leader training meetings conducted and number of persons attending also were included in this analyses. The .05 level was accepted as being statistically significant. Computations were done by The University of Tennessee Computing Center. Major findings of the study were: 1. Counties with a 4-H Volunteer Leaders' Organization had a significantly larger number of Explorer members and larger potential audience than counties without this organization. Counties with a Volunteer Leaders' Organization did not differ significantly from counties without a Volunteer Leaders' Organization as to total 4-H enrollment. 2. Counties with a Volunteer Leaders' Organization did not differ significantly from counties without this Organization in regard to seven of the eight Explorer participation variables. However, counties with Volunteer Leaders' Organization did have a significantly larger number of Explorer members attending district camp. 3. Counties with a Volunteer Leaders' Organization did not differ significantly from counties without a Volunteer Leaders' Organization in the organizational structure and numbers of volunteer leaders for Explorer Clubs. 4. Counties with a 4-H Council had a significantly larger total 4-H enrollment than counties without a 4-H Council. 5. Counties with a 4-H Council had a significantly larger participation in other Explorer events and activities than counties without a 4-H Council. 6. Counties with a 4-H Council had a significantly larger number of Explorer Clubs on a classroom basis than counties without a 4-H Council. 7. Counties with a 4-H Council had a significantly larger number of junior, adult, and total number of organizational leaders, than counties without a 4-H Council. Also, the numbers of teen, adult, and total project and activity leaders were signifi-cantly larger in counties with a 4-H Council. 8. However, counties with a 4-H Council did not differ significantly from counties without a 4-H Council as to the number of poten-tial Explorer members or actual number of Explorer members enrolled, participation in public speaking, poster contest, dairy foods contest, demonstrations, exhibits, camp attendance, number of Explorer Clubs, clubs with 20 to 40 members or Explorer arid other audiences, number of teen organizational leaders and junior project leaders. 9. Counties with a 4-H Citizens' Committee had a significantly larger number of junior and teen organizational leaders than counties without a 4-H Citizens' Committee. Counties with a 4-H Citizens' Committee had a significantly larger number of junior, teen, and total number of activity leaders than did counties without a 4-H Citizens' Committee. 10. However, counties with a 4-H Citi;;ens' Committee did not differ significantly from counties without a Citizens' Committee as to number of adult organizational leaders, and number of junior, teen and adult project leaders. 11. Counties with 4-H Project Groups did not differ significantly from counties without 4-H Project Groups in participation of Explorers, or the number of leaders for Explorer Clubs. 12. The number of Organizational Leaders was significantly related to number of Explorer members participating in the 4-H dairy foods contest and attendance at district camp. 13. The number of Project Leaders was significantly related to Explorer participation in boys' public speaking, girls' public speaking, poster contest, demonstrations, exhibits, and other events and activities. 14. The number of Activity Leaders was significantly related to Explorer participation in boys' public speaking, girls' public speaking, and attendance at district camp. 15. The number of Project Leaders attending training meetings was significantly related to participation in the poster contest, dairy foods contest, and other events and activities. 16. The number of Project Leaders attending training meetings and the number of adult project leaders attending training meetings were significantly related to one leadership variable (i-e., total number of Project Leaders). The number of adult project leaders attending training meetings was significantly related to the total number of Activity Leaders. The number of Project Leader Training meetings held, and the number of leaders attending training meetings was not significantly related to Explorer organizational structure or to the total number of Organizational Leaders for Explorer Clubs. Implications and recommendations were also included in the study.

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