Perceived effectiveness of youth-adult partnerships on enhancing life skill development through 4-H
Abstract
Scope and Method of Study: The purpose of this study was to determine if youth and adult participants in the 4-H Environmental Impact program perceive youth adult partnerships as an effective means to enhance the youths' development of life skills. The study further sought to discover the perceived obstacles that may keep youth and adults from participating in equal partnerships. Objectives were to: (1) determine if youth and adult team members perceive that youth developed the life skills of Leadership, Cooperation, Contributions to group efforts, Accepting differences, Service Learning, Planning and organizing through participation in youth-adult partnerships, (2) determine if youth perceive themselves as equal team members when serving in a partnership with adults, (3) discover perceived obstacles that may keep youth from engaging in youth-adult partnerships, and (4) discover methods for improving newly developed youth-adult partnerships in order to develop life skills. Findings and Conclusions: The life skills of: Leadership, Cooperation, Service Learning, and Planning and organizing were enhanced through the youths' participation in the youth-adult partnership. The other measured life skills were not clearly enhanced through this program effort. Therefore it is recommended that before beginning 4-H programming utilizing youth-adult partnerships as a youth development tool, that specific life skills be targeted for enhancement through the program. (2) Through this research there was evidence that many of the youth participants did perceive themselves as equal team members when participating in this youth-adult partnership. It is recommended that all the adults involved understand the concept of a youth-adult partnership. (3) The research data indicated the greatest perceived obstacle that kept youth from engaging was not much time after homework and other activities. In order to overcome these identified obstacles the youth must be involved in setting the meeting schedule. (4) The data reported the project needed to be more interesting, needed more participation, needed to work more as a youth-adult partnership, or didn't need a change. It is recommended that all participants in newly formed youth-adult partnerships receive training on how to implement this type of program, and how to participate equally.
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- OSU Dissertations [11222]