Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™
Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 5 of 5
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Why Youth Leave 4-H After The First Year: A Multistate Study, Kendra M. Lewis, Sarah Hensley, Marianne Bird, Jeannette Rea-Keywood, Jolynn Miller, Car Mun Kok, Nancy Shelstad
Why Youth Leave 4-H After The First Year: A Multistate Study, Kendra M. Lewis, Sarah Hensley, Marianne Bird, Jeannette Rea-Keywood, Jolynn Miller, Car Mun Kok, Nancy Shelstad
Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
Enrollment in US youth development programs is decreasing annually. Research has shown that youth in the 4-H youth development program experience a broad range of positive youth development outcomes, including greater community contributions, healthier choices, higher academic competence, critical life and leadership skills such as problem-solving, goal setting, communication, responsibility, and a sense of belonging and purpose. Finding ways to retain youth in the program for more than a year or two can profoundly impact society due to the skills developed and opportunities provided to youth in 4-H. The purpose of this study was to understand why youth might leave …
Exploring Early Career Extension Agents’ Perceptions Of Their Mentors, Best Liked Coworkers, And Organizational Commitment, Amy Harder, Lendel K. Narine, Matt Benge, Marina Denny, Kristi Farner
Exploring Early Career Extension Agents’ Perceptions Of Their Mentors, Best Liked Coworkers, And Organizational Commitment, Amy Harder, Lendel K. Narine, Matt Benge, Marina Denny, Kristi Farner
Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
Forming positive relationships is an important part of the onboarding process for new Extension professionals. Often, formal mentors are assigned to new employees, but they also develop relationships with other colleagues in the organization. Past studies have found quality relationships with mentors and coworkers can positively influence job outcomes such as employee turnover, organizational performance, and organizational commitment. This study examined the perceptions that early career Extension agents in Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi had of their formal mentors and best-liked coworkers using a causal-comparative design and online survey. Results showed early career Extension agents tended to have marginally positive views …
Factors Contributing To The Retention Of Senior 4-H Members: From The Youth Perspective, Stacey Ellison, Amy Harder
Factors Contributing To The Retention Of Senior 4-H Members: From The Youth Perspective, Stacey Ellison, Amy Harder
Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
Of the almost six million youth reported as 4-H members in 2014, only 610,161 were listed as students in grades 9–12, compared to 1,941,406 in grades 4–8. This great disparity has been a long-held concern of 4-H professionals. Identifying both barriers to and contributing factors for continued 4-H membership is critical in understanding membership trends. This study employed the theoretical framework of Ajzen’s Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to uncover such barriers and contributing factors. Qualitative analysis showed that a desire to terminate 4-H membership during the middle school grades was common, yet perceived behavioral control among 4-H members had …
Engaging National Guard And Reserve Families In Research, Kelly D. Davis, Concetta C. Lapergola, Cameron Richardson, Jennifer Karre, Keith R. Aronson, Daniel F. Perkins
Engaging National Guard And Reserve Families In Research, Kelly D. Davis, Concetta C. Lapergola, Cameron Richardson, Jennifer Karre, Keith R. Aronson, Daniel F. Perkins
Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
This study’s goal was to identify how to increase National Guard and Reserve military family participation in research. Compared to Active Duty, families of National Guard and Reserve members are more geographically dispersed and less connected to a military base which can prove problematic for research recruitment and participation. We conducted a focus group study with Service Members and spouses (N = 14) to ascertain their perspectives on (a) whether National Guard and Reserve families would be interested in participating in research studies, (b) potential effective strategies for recruitment, (c) ideal data collection procedures, and (d) how to retain these …
Solutions To Burnout And Retention As Perceived By County Extension Agents Of The Colorado State University Extension System, Matt Benge, Amy Harder, Jeff Goodwin
Solutions To Burnout And Retention As Perceived By County Extension Agents Of The Colorado State University Extension System, Matt Benge, Amy Harder, Jeff Goodwin
Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
This study explored solutions to the issue of burnout and retention of Extension agents. Extension agents experience burnout for reasons such as long hours, stress, and organizational factors. As Extension administration addresses job satisfaction and performance of Extension employees, burnout and retention issues identified in this study can facilitate efforts to enhance the effectiveness of a statewide Extension program. Herzberg’s Motivation-Hygiene Theory was the theoretical framework for this study. Researchers used the constant-comparative method of analysis to identify recurring themes from the open-ended items of an online-administered survey. Twelve primary themes emerged, including (a) compensation, (b) hiring practices, (c) promotion …