Masters Theses

Date of Award

8-1969

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Agricultural Extension

Major Professor

Robert S. Dotson

Committee Members

B. S. Pickett, Don Williams, Frank F. Bell

Abstract

The study was undertaken to determine the home grounds Improvement situation among 4-H families in Polk County, Tennessee. It was conducted for the purposes of; (1) obtaining information concerning characteristics of homeowners and renters; (2) determining which recommended home grounds improvement practices they were using, and (3) identifying some of the factors influencing them to adopt practices. Representatives of 84 4-H families (65 homeowners and 19 renters) were interviewed in random samples for comparison. Data were analyzed in numbers and percent, and adoption levels of homeowners and renters were compared on the basis of practice diffusion ratings. Findings disclosed that the average interviewee in this study in 1966 had the following characteristics: (1) was about 44 years of age; (2) had completed about 9 years of schooling; (3) was a rural non farm resident; (4) was a housewife and (5) lived in a house built between 1950-1959. Homeowner families interviewed were more often farmers, house wives, older, first occupants of their homes, lived in homes built between 1950-1959, and spent more money for plants than did families of renters. With regard to the adoption of 27 recommended practices studied, homeowners consistently were farther along in the diffusion process than were renters on nearly all practices. Greatest differences between the two groups, in order, were noted on: (1) "planting grass at recommended 'times ; (2) filling bottoms of holes with topsoil and remainder with subsoil when transplanting"; (3) "planting desirable varieties of grass"; (4) "preparing desirable seedbeds before planting lawns"; (5) "mulching lawns properly when newly seeded"; (6) '"preparing holes for trees and shrubs 6-12 inches wider and deeper than the size of the earthball"; (7) "removing burlap from balled trees and shrubs before transplanting"; (8) watering lawns adequately when newly seeded"; and (9) "pruning trees and shrubs at recommended times and in recommended ways." Both the homeowners and renters were "planning to try" most practices; although, the farmer had a slightly higher total average practice diffusion rate than did the latter. With regard to eight attitude toward landscaping statements, renters had higher total average attitude scores than did homeowners on most of the eight attitudes. Greatest differences between the two groups, in order, were noted on: (1) "landscaping with trees and shrubs involves too much work"; (2) "landscaping with trees and shrubs costs too much money"; (3) "landscaping with trees and shrubs is nothing more than an effort to keep up with the Joneses"; and (4) "nothing gives as much satisfaction to a homeowner as having his home well landscaped with trees and shrubs." Both homeowners and renters had "favorable" total average attitude scores, but renters were slightly more favorable. With regard to eight attitude toward nurseries statements, renters had higher total average attitude scores than did homeowners on most of the eight attitudes. Greatest differences between the two groups, in order, were noted on; (1) "the trees and shrubs sold by local nurseries are better than those sold by other outlets"; (2) "nurseries are too eager to sell"; (3) "nurseries use too many technical names for trees and shrubs"; and (4) "you can depend on information given by nurseries." Both homeowners and renters had "neutral" total average attitude scores, but renters were slightly more favorable. Recommendations were made for use of the findings and additional research.

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