Oklahoma 4-H Roundup: Effect on place bonding of youth visiting the Oklahoma State University campus

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to investigate if there is an effect and if so, to what level of effect that repeated trips to the Oklahoma State University (OSU) campus to attend Oklahoma State 4-H Roundup (Roundup) had on the participants' level of place bonding to the OSU campus. Additionally, the study investigates the level of effect that trips to campus other than Roundup had on place bonding. 4-H youth (ages 12-19) that attended Roundup (n = 648) were provided a self-reported survey (response rate = 70%) to determine their frequency of Roundup attendance and other campus visits. A 22-item scale was used to provide respondents scores for the five dimensions of place bonding: familiarity, belongingness, identity, dependence, and rootedness. A cross-sectional analysis was conducted using nonparametric statistics. Results indicated that increased trips to Roundup had an effect on the respondents place bonding to campus. As the frequency of trips to Roundup increased there was a significant increase in the scores for all five dimensions of place bonding (p < .017). Visits to OSU for reasons other than Roundup were also shown to have similar effects on place bonding. As the frequency of other visits to OSU increased there was a significant increase in the respondents' scores for all five dimensions of place bonding (p < .001). In order to compare the varying combinations of Roundup visits and other visits to campus, four classifications (Beginners, Site Specific, Activity Specific, and Veterans) of experience use history (EUH) were formed. The EUH groups were significantly different for all five place bonding dimensions (p < .001). These findings conclude that Roundup, and other activities held on the OSU campus contribute to 4-H youth developing significant place bonds to the campus.