THE VALUE OF 4-H COMPETITIVE ACTIVITIES AS PERCEIVED BY THE PARENTS OF 4-H MEMBERS

The major-purpose of the stu& was to examine perceptions of 4-H parents in Districts II and IV in the Texas 4-Hprogram relative to the educational value of competition in the 4-Hprogram. Two-hundred--!iy parents whose children were currently or formerly enrolled in the 4-H program were sampkedfiom the population. The parents in the study had a very positive attitude toward competition in 4-H, regardless of demographic background 7he major reasons the parents had their children participate in 4-H competitive events were because they perceived it enhanced their child’s personal skill development and self esteem. The major concerns the parents had about 4-H competitive activities centered on excessive parental involvement and unethical practices. 4-H parents in the districts varied in their attitude toward competition, primarily because of three factors: (I) senior volunteer leaders tended to be more positive toward competition than junior leaders, (2) individuals who participated in 4-H camp tended to be more positive toward competition, and (3) those former 4-H members who enrolled in 4-H at a later age tended to be more positive toward competition. INTRODUCTION AND THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK The 4-H organization is one of the oldest and largest experiential education programs for youth in the United States of America (Ladewig & Thomas, 1987). While the basic purpose of the 4H program was originally the development of boys and girls for farm life, today’s 4-H program is designed to enhance the development of responsible and capable citizens, regardless of home life or family background (Kelsey & Heame, 1963). Essentially, the purpose of the program is to create a supportive environment in which youth can reach their fullest potential (National FFA Organization, 1996). From its beginning, the 4-H program has used a system of clubs and competitive activities to promote learning and the development of the Journal of Agricultural Education specific skills of 4-H members (Ladewig & Thomas, 1987). The value of club participation and competitive activities can be traced back to the agricultural clubs and contests created around the turn of the century (Wessel & Wessel, 1982). Weber and McCullers (1986) stated that “young men and women who traditionally attain the highest levels of achievement in the 4-H program are typically very successful ‘in other aspects of life as well” (p. 20). Researchers have indicated that some of the most important goals of 4-H have been to provide educational opportunities for youth through competitive activities. They discern that competition stimulates creativity and motivates members to set goals, complete tasks, and strive for excellence (4-H Leader, 1986). Although American society is based on competition (Rich & DeVitis, 1992; Weber & McCullers, 1986) many believe that pressing 41 Vol. 39, No. 3, 1998 questions should be raised about the benefits of competition (Moe, 1961; Weber & McCullers, 1986; Hale, 1993) and Kieth (1997) reported that many of the concerns about competition in the 4-H program can be traced back to excessive parental involvement in competition designed for youth participation. Even though the backbone of the 4H program is volunteer and parental involvement, the effects of adult and parent involvement in youth competitive activities have been an issue in the 4-H program for many years (Ames & Ames, 1978; Goodwin, 1994). It is this concern about the value of competitive events and parental involvement in the 4-H program that has led to the study. PURPOSE AND RESEARCH QUESTIONS The major purpose of the study was to examine perceptions of 4-H parents in two extension districts in Texas relative to the educational value of competition in the 4-H program. An additional purpose was to determine if there was a relationship between selected demographic variables and perceptions of parents. Specific questions of the research were: 1. What are the demographib variables and levels of 4-H participation of 4-H parents in Extension Districts II and IV in Texas? 2. What are these parents’ attitudes toward competitive activities in 4-H? 3. Is there a statistically significant relationship between selected 4-H parent demographic characteristics and attitude toward 4-H competitive activities? 4. Do perceptions of competition differ for 4H parents who participated in 4-H competitive activities and those 4-H parents who did not participate in 4-H competitive activities? 5. What are the major benefits and problems Journal of Agricultural Education of 4-H competition as perceived by 4-H parents? METHODS AND PROCEDURES A descriptive survey design was used to gather information to describe the current situation and to determine relationships that might fulfill the research questions. The target population of this study was 4-H parents whose children were currently or formerly enrolled in the 4-H program in Districts II and District IV of the Texas 4-H Program. The districts were chosen which best represented important characteristics such as geographic location, urban versus rural, and variety of 4-H competitive activities offered. The list of subjects in the target population was taken from the Texas 4-H District II and IV mailing lists. Dr. Bob Robinson, extension director for District II, Mr. Randy Upshaw, extension director for District IV, and Angela Burkham, Extension Program Specialist 4-H, provided assistance in verifying the list. Two hundred and fifty parents were selected using sampling techniques as described by Borg and Gall (1994). The sample was a proportionally random sample stratified by 4-H districts. The instrument for the study was a two-part, mailed questionnaire. It was researcher-designed and was composed in a booklet format according to the Total Design Method (TDM) developed by Dillman (1978). Part One was used to gather demographic information from the subjects. Part Two consisted of a five-point Likert-Scale using questions about competition. The questions in Part Two were modified from surveys published by Hale (1993), Ladewig and Thomas (1987) and Treat (1975). Each of the surveys dealt with the issue of 4-H competition. The Hale (1993) study dealt with the attitudes of several individuals associated with the 4-H program, including volunteer leaders and 4-H parents. Questions from Hale’s survey, a attitudinal Likert-scale on 442 Vol. 39, No. 3, 1998 H competition, was adapted for use in conjunction with questions from Treat’s (1975). The instrument from Ladewig and Thomas’ (1987) study titled “Assessing the Impact of 4-H on Former Members” was used for the development of the demographic information used in the current instrument. Treat’s (1975) study, “Attitudes toward Incentives and Competition,” proved to be the most useful in the development of the Likertscale portion of the current instrument. Section IV of Treat’s (1975) survey dealing with competition was used because it offered a number of positive and negative statements about the issue of competition. Ten positive and ten negative statements were chosen for the purpose of developing a Competition Attitude Index (CAI) score for the participants of the study. Each of the responses to the questions carried a numerical value score with 5 having the most positive attitude toward competition, and 1 indicating the least positive attitude toward competition. By placing a value on each response, a CAI score could be determined for each participant of the study. Another section in Part Two required the parents to respond to open ended questions. This allowed respondents the opportunity to express further options about the benefits and/or problems with 4-H competitive events and activities. Early forms of the instrument were reviewed by faculty and staff in the Department of Agricultural Education and Communications at Texas Tech University, and associates of the Agricultural Extension Service Their suggestions and comments were used to refine the questionnaire which was later given to a panel of agricultural educators at Texas Tech University for review (see Appendix A for a list of the panel members). Professors, graduate students, county extension agents, and 4-H adult leaders comprised the panel All but two of the panel members either had a graduate degree in agricultural education or were currently enrolled in a graduate program in the field at the time they reviewed the instrument. Journal of Agricultural Education Seventy percent of the panel members had been a member of the Texas 4-H program, and twenty percent had children currently enrolled in the Texas 4-H program. The review was used to verity the content validity of the instrument and to make changes and clarifications prior to mailing the survey. Major changes that were made at the suggestion of the panel were the addition of instructions and the addition of categories to some of the questions which asked demographic information. A formative review of the instrument was conducted on May 1, 1997, at a District II 4-H Adult Leaders Meeting, using a group of twenty 4H parents whose children were currently involved in the Texas 4-H program. Suggestions were solicited from the group for any problems or difliculties that were noticed while completing the instrument. Only minor modifications were made to the questionnaire, including correction of a grammatical error and the addition of openedended questions. Upon reaching the pre-determined acceptable response level (70%) statistical analysis of the data files was completed using SPSS for the Macintosh. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the data pertaining to: (a) the demographic and 4-H background of the parents, (b) parents’ responses concerning educational value of 4-H competitive activities, and (c) the greatest benefits and greatest problems with 4-H competitive activities. In order to determine if there was a difference in parents’ responses according to demographics and 4-H background, a ste