Masters Theses

Date of Award

12-1971

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Agricultural and Extension Education

Major Professor

Cecil E. Carter Jr

Committee Members

Robert S. Dotson, M. J. Montgomery, John B. Bowser Jr

Abstract

This descriptive study was concerned with the problem of decreased 4-H Club enrollment among senior 4-H Club youth in Tennessee. Data were collected from all ninth and tenth grade boys in Greene County, Tennessee, who were present on the day the group interviews were con-ducted in each school. A total of 308 interview schedules was judged to be accurate and was used in the analysis. For purposes of analysis, data from the 308 boys were classified into two groups according to their 4-H Club membership status: (1) boys who were 4-H Club members at the time of the 1970 interview (4-H members), and (2) boys who had been but were not 4-H members in 1970 (dropouts). Of the 308 boys interviewed, 32 were 4-H members and 276 were dropouts. The purpose was to compare the 4-H members and dropouts regarding personal characteristics, parental and family characteristics, the extent to which they participated in various youth organizations, and the tasks they were most interested in learning to perform. Thirtytwo independent variables were identified and used as a basis for comparing 4-H members with dropouts. Four-H membership was the dependent variable. Contingency tables were used to show the observed relation between the dependent and independent variables. Chi square statistical analyses were made to show the significance levels of relations obtained. Chi square values which achieved the .05 level were accepted as statistically significant. Computations were done with the assistance of The University of Tennessee Computing Center. Membership status (4-H members and dropouts) of the ninth and tenth grade boys in Greene County was significantly related to their: (1) age, (2) grade received in school, (3) age when first enrolled in 4-H, (4) plans for attending college, (5) church attendance, (6) fathers' occupation, (7) fathers' level of education, (8) fathers' attitude when respondent first joined 4-H, (9) mothers' level of education, (10) mothers' attitude when the respondent first joined 4-H, (11) school organizations in which active membership was held, (12) competitive attitude, (13) attitude toward 4-H events and activities, (14) partici pation in 4-H events and activities, and (15) interest in 4-H events and activities. The data further indicated the following: 1. Ninth and tenth grade boys in Greene County who were 4-H members tended to be younger than those who had dropped out of 4-H. 2. Boys who remained in 4-H reported having received higher school grades than did the dropouts. 3. Members tended to have first joined 4-H at an earlier age than had those who dropped out of 4-H. 4. A greater proportion of the 4-H members, than of the dropouts, had plans to attend college. 5. Four-H members attended church more frequently than did dropouts. 6. Four-H members were more likely to be sons of farmers than were dropouts. 7. Boys who remained in 4-H tended to have fathers who had attained a higher level of education than the fathers of boys who had dropped out of 4-H. 8. Boys who remained in 4-H perceived that their fathers were pleased by their joining 4-H5 while boys who had dropped out perceived that their fathers were displeased. 9. Mothers of 4-H members had attended school longer than the mothers of dropouts. 10. Ninth and tenth grade Greene County boys who remained in 4-H felt that their mothers were pleased at the time they first joined 4-H. 11. Male 4-H members in the ninth and tenth grade were m.ore active in school organizations than were dropouts. 12. A higher percentage of ninth and tenth grade Greene County boys who remained in 4-H, than of dropouts, tended to enjoy competition with others of their own age. 13. Both 4-H members and dropouts of the ninth and tenth grade Greene County boys were highly in favor of placing more 5 rather than less, emphasis on each of the 18 events and activities listed. 14. Four-H members in the ninth and tenth grades of Greene County schools had participated in a larger number of 4-H events and activities than had dropouts. 15. Out of the 20 projects and activities listed, dropouts felt they already knew how to be at ease with girls, how to keep a car in good mechanical condition, how to repair electrical equipment, and how to be a leader. Four-H members were most interested in learning how to repair electrical equipment, how to keep a car in good mechanical condition, how to be a leader, and how to be at ease with girls. Membership status of the ninth and tenth grade Greene County boys was not significantly related to the following: (1) school grade level when they first joined 4-H, (2) place of residence, or (3) dating situation. Family characteristics that were not significantly related to 4-H membership status included: (1) family's income, (2) parents' marital status, (3) father's and mother's attitude at time of study when their sons dropped 4-H, and (4) mother's employment outside the home. Other independent variables found not to be significantly related to the boys' 4-H membership status were: (1) their feelings concerning free time, (2) the number of hours they spent watching television and listening to the radio, and (3) the boys' attitude toward 4-H record keeping. Implications and recommendations also were made.

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