Date of Award
2000
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Human Resource Education and Workforce Development
First Advisor
Satish Verma
Abstract
The main purpose of this study was to determine contributions adult volunteer leaders make for 4-H and to identify factors influencing the retention of adult volunteer 4-H leaders in the Louisiana Cooperative Extension 4-H Program. A random sample of 196 adult volunteer 4-H leaders from 10 Louisiana parishes were the participants of this study. The data collection instrument was pre-tested for reliability and yielded a .96 Cronbach's Alpha internal consistency coefficient for its 84 scale items. Anticipating approximately a 50% response rate, 400 surveys were mailed out in September, 1999. After two attempts were made for follow-up 218 usable surveys were available to the researcher in November, 1999. The study showed that a profile of the Louisiana 4-H volunteer leader is a married woman, 31--50 years of age, a school teacher, with an average of 1.29 children in 4-H. The study found that the majority of volunteer 4-H leaders in Louisiana were first asked to serve as volunteer leaders by school administrators and the method they were first asked was school meeting. The study found that the initial and continuing motivators that influenced volunteer leaders to initially become a 4-H leader and to continue serving in the same position were mainly concentrated on affiliation, achievement, and altruistic reasons. Respondents of the study agreed with the benefits of an orientation training program before initiating volunteer work with 4-H. They basically do not volunteer for the sake of recognition but for youth. They receive adequate support for their volunteer service. The study found significant differences in the mean underlying factors of initial motivators, continuing motivators, support and negative motivators by age, level of education, number of children in 4-H, and geographic location. The length of volunteer service was found to be associated with selected demographics. Continuing motivators were also associated with the feedback received by 4-H agents and with the performance of an ongoing training program.
Recommended Citation
Boz, Ismet, "Factors Influencing the Retention of Adult Volunteer Leaders in the Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service 4 -H Program." (2000). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 7185.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/7185
ISBN
9780599853089
Pages
170
DOI
10.31390/gradschool_disstheses.7185