Masters Theses

Date of Award

12-1971

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Agricultural and Extension Education

Major Professor

Cecil Carter Jr

Committee Members

Robert S. Dotson, Ben Powell

Abstract

This study was concerned with the problem of decreasing 4-H enrollment among senior 4-H youth in Blount County, Tennessee. Data were collected from all ninth grade girls in Blount County, Tennessee, who were present on the day the group interviews were conducted in each of five schools. A total of 246 interview schedules was judged to be accurate and all 246 were used in the analysis. For purposes of analysis, data from the 246 girls were classified into two groups according to the 4-H membership status of the interviewees: (1) girls who were 4-H Club members at the time of the interview (4-H members); and (2) girls who had been but were not 4-H members in J.970 (dropouts). Of the 246 girls interviewed, 62 were 4-H members and 184 were dropouts. The purpose was to compare the 4-H members and dropouts as to their personal characteristics, parental and family characteristics, the extent to which they participated in various youth organizations, and the tasks which they wished to perform or not to perform. Thirty seven independent variables were identified and used as a basis for comparing 4-H members and dropouts. Contingency tables were used to show the relation between the dependent and independent variables. Chi square statistical analysis was made to show the significance level of relations identified. Chi square values which achieved the .05 level were accepted as statistically significant. Computations were done by The University of Tennessee Computing Center. Major findings of the study were: 1. The 4-H membership status of girls was significantly related to their place of residence. There was a tendency for 4-H members to live on farms or rural non farms, while dropouts tended to live in urban and rural non farm areas. 2. The 4-H membership status of girls was significantly related to their age at the time they first joined 4-H. However, the data did not permit conclusions concerning the age of 4-H members and dropouts when they first joined 4-H. 3. The 4-H membership status of girls was significantly related to the number of years girls remained in 4-H. Tenure of 4-H members was greater than that of dropouts. 4. The 4-H membership status of girls was significantly related to their fathers' reactions when the daughter first joined 4-H. Four-H members tended to feel their fathers were very pleased toward their joining 4-tH. 5. The 4-H membership status of girls was significantly related to their mothers' reactions when the daughter first joined 4-H. The 4-H members tended to feel their mothers were very pleased toward their joining 4-H. 6. The 4-H membership status of girls was significantly related to the number of school organizations in which girls held active membership. The 4-H members tended to belong to more school organizations than the dropouts. 7. The 4-H membership status of girls was significantly related to the number of out of school organizations to which girls belonged. The 4-H members tended to belong to a larger number of out-of-school organizations than the dropouts. 8. The 4-H membership status of girls was significantly related to the total number of organizations in which girls held active membership. The 4-H members tended to belong to more total organizations than the dropouts. 9. The 4-H membership status of girls was significantly related to the number of 4-H events and activities in which girls had parti-cipated. Dropouts tended to participate in fewer 4-H events and activities than the 4-H members. 10. The 4-H membership status of girls was significantly related to the girls' feelings toward competition. The 4-H members tended to have a more favorable attitude toward competition than the dropouts. 11. The 4-H membership status of girls was significantly related to the girls' attitudes toward record books. The 4-H members tended to have more favorable attitudes toward record books than the dropouts. 12. The 4-H membership status of girls was significantly related to the amount of time the girls spent watching television. The 4-H members tended to spend more time watching television. 4-H membership status was not significantly related to the girls' age at the time they decided to join 4-H or to drop out of 4-H; the school grades they received most frequently; their future plans for attending college; frequency of church attendance; dating patterns or to a girl's "going steady." Family characteristics which were not significantly related to 4-H membership status were: parents' marital status; family income; fathers' occupation; mothers' employment outside the home; mothers' membership in clubs or organizations; and mothers' and fathers' levels of education. Other independent variables which were not significantly related to 4-H membership status were the girls' participation on school athletic teams; participation on out-of-school athletic teams; perceptions concerning the attitudes of their friends toward 4-H; and the amount of free time the girls had. A slightly higher average percent of dropouts than 4-H members felt each of the 18 4-H events and activities should receive less emphasis. A slightly higher average percent of 4-H members than dropouts felt greater emphasis should be given to each of the 18 4-H activities and events. There was a tendency for a higher percent of 4-H members than the dropouts to know how to perform more of the 21 tasks studied. Consequently, a smaller proportion of 4-H members than dropouts said they would like to learn to perform the 21 tasks. A slightly smaller average percent of 4-H members than dropouts did not like those of the 21 tasks they had tried to perform. Implications and recommendations also were made.

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