4-H Participation and Science Interest in Youth

Authors

• Katherine E. Heck, University of CaliforniaFollow
• Ramona M. Carlos, University of CaliforniaFollow
• Cynthia Barnett, University of California Cooperative ExtensionFollow
• Martin H. Smith, University of CaliforniaFollow

Volume

50

Issue

2

DOI

10.34068/joe.50.02.61

Abstract

The study reported here investigated the impacts of participation in 4-H on young people's interest and participation in science. Survey data were collected from relatively large and ethnically diverse samples of elementary and high school-aged students in California. Results indicated that although elementary-grade 4-H members are not more interested in science than other youth, by high school, participation in 4-H is associated with a greater number of science classes and higher-level science coursework. These results suggest that the 4-H program may have the ability to influence science interest and participation in the long term among its members.

Creative Commons License

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Recommended Citation

Heck, K. E., Carlos, R. M., Barnett, C., & Smith, M. H. (2012). 4-H Participation and Science Interest in Youth. Journal of Extension, 50(2), Article 61. https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.50.02.61