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A comparison of affective changes between
economically disadvantages and advantaged
sixth graders at a resident outdoor program.
Fletcher, S.A.
Unpublished doctoral dissertation, Indiana
University, 1973.
Purpose:
Determine the differences in outcomes in
self-reliance, cooperation, and transfer
of positive values back to the classroom
between economically disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged
sixth graders attending a five-day resident
outdoor education program.
Sample:
25 boys and girls from disadvantaged backgrounds;
25 boys and girls from advantaged backgrounds.
Method/Instruments:
Instruments:
- Nowicki-Strickland Locus of Control
Test: measures self-reliance
- All About Myself Scale: a self-rating
scale measuring perceived competence.
- Pre and Post-camp questionnaires.
Design: 2(socioeconomic status) x 2 (gender)
x 2 (pretest/posttest) design. Pretests
were given 3 weeks before the camp experience,
posttests were given 2 weeks after the camp
experience.
Data Analysis:
- ANOVA on all 3 measures, all combination
of variables.
- Chi-square test for each item on the
All About Myself Scale.
Results:
- Outdoor education experience made a
significant difference in externality
for the disadvantaged group (they became
more internal). The disadvantaged group
members were more external than the advantaged
group on the pre-test and reached the
advantaged group's pre-test level on the
post-test.
- Significant positive difference between
pre and post-test externality scores for
both groups, indicating that the camp
experience had a positive effect on locus
of control.
- No significant differences on any of
the comparisons on the All About Myself
Scale.
- Positive effect on self-reliance and
self-confidence of all students.
- Moderate improvement in cooperation
for all students.
- Moderate transfer of positive values
back to the classroom for all students.
- Significant positive differences between
pre-test and post-test scores for all
children on locus of control. Advantaged
girls achieved the greatest difference
and disadvantaged boys achieved the smallest
difference.
- Questionnaire Results:
- Majority of the children enjoyed
the experience and would like to go
back again.
- Most of the children felt they had
made new friends at camp. More of
the advantaged children than disadvantage
children felt they had made new friends.
- More of the boys than girls said
they fought while at camp.
- Children were evenly divided over
whether others in the class seemed
friendlier after camp.
- No difference in the way children
felt about relationships with their
teachers.
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