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Family Life and Child Development Concepts in Elementary Schools: A Factor Analysis
Author(s) -
Bakalars R.,
Petrich B.
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
home economics research journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.372
H-Index - 31
eISSN - 1552-3934
pISSN - 0046-7774
DOI - 10.1177/1077727x8301200106
Subject(s) - curriculum , mathematics education , primary education , psychology , family life , pedagogy , sociology , gender studies
Elementary teachers conceptualize family life and child development education concepts differently than do many home economics professionals. This was a conclusion of a study to determine to what extent family life education concepts were included in elementary school curricula and to determine the factorial structure of the concepts based on teachers' responses. Over 200 elementary teachers responded to a list of 70 validated concepts. The teachers taught grades kindergarten to sixth. Factor analysis revealed four major factors: 1–Learning About Self and Others, 2–Family and Society Interacting, 3–De– veloping as a Family Member, and 4–Adolescence. Mean scores revealed that none of the factors were taught to a great extent and Factors 2 and 4 were seldom or never taught. Concepts relating to human sexual development were not overtly present in the factors and those indirectly related were seldom taught. There are implications for home economics family and child development specialists who are consulting with curriculum workers in elementary schools, as well as for curriculum developers. It appears that home economists may be able to contribute to preservice and inservice education of elementary teachers.