CHARACTER EDUCATION AND 4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

• Main Author: Mullins, Jessica Lynn
• Format: Others
• Published: UKnowledge 2011
• Subjects: Character Education; 4-H Youth Development; Positive Youth Development; CHARACTER COUNTS!; Theory of Planned Behavior; Agriculture
• Online Access: http://uknowledge.uky.edu/gradschool_theses/85; http://uknowledge.uky.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1087&context=gradschool_theses

Character education assumes responsibility for influencing and educating youth on morals, values, beliefs and positive character attributes in order to influence them into being positive and contributing members of society. Character education is most often taught in the home, schools and community. One community organization that integrates character education into its programming is 4-H Youth Development. The purpose of this research is to view the relationships between character education and 4-H, and more so whether Kentucky 4-H programs influence the knowledge, attitudes and practices of positive character among youth leaders. This study also looked at length of 4-H involvement and gender in order to determine influence. It was found that Kentucky 4-H programs do influence positive character among youth leaders, as youth indicated that they had gained character knowledge from 4-H involvement, as well as the program had made them a better person. It was also found that the gender of youth or their length of involvement in 4-H programs does not affect the character knowledge, attitudes and practices gained from involvement. The author recommends using these positive findings to continue to expand Kentucky programs and recruit adults and youth.