ERIC Number: EJ1459898
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2024
Pages: 24
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: EISSN-2325-5226
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Youth Sparks via 4-H: Relations with Program Quality, Dosage, and Involvement
Alexandra Skrocki; Gary Ellis; Andrea Ettekal; Darlene Locke
Journal of Human Sciences & Extension, v12 n1 2024
Using a statewide sample of participants in 4-H programs, we tested associations among youth sparks, program quality, program dosage, and four types of involvement (breadth of participation in out-of-school-time beyond 4-H, scope of learning strategies, degree of specialization, and cumulative program immersion). Participants were 180 Texas 4-H alumni who graduated from high school in 2013 and 2014 and had two or more years of involvement in Texas 4-H programs. Data were collected via an electronic questionnaire based on a database of former Texas 4-H members. Twelve hypotheses were tested, linking program quality to sparks through indirect and direct relations. Eleven of the twelve hypotheses were supported. Program quality had a strong direct relation to sparks (b = 0.41). Direct relations between sparks and the facets of immersion were also found (b = 0.31 for the degree of specialization in one of Texas 4-H's program areas and b = 0.27 for cumulative program immersion). Indirect associations were also significant. Dosage (years in Texas 4-H) was not significantly related to sparks.
Descriptors: Student Interests, Student Motivation, Youth Programs, Program Effectiveness, Educational Quality, Persistence, Student Participation, After School Programs, Learning Strategies, Cognitive Style, Specialization
School of Human Sciences, Mississippi State University. PO Box 9745, Mississippi State, MS 39762. Tel: 662-325-6861; Fax: 662-325-8188; e-mail: jhse@ext.msstate.edu; Web site: https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/jhse/
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A