Graduate Thesis Or Dissertation
 

Requisite family living competencies for high school graduates of Oregon, as perceived by participants of public health prenatal classes

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https://ir.library.oregonstate.edu/concern/graduate_thesis_or_dissertations/5d86p241r

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  • The main objective of this study was to identify family life competencies needed by high school graduates, as perceived by a majority of respondents. In addition, the null hypothesis tested was: that age, sex, and educational level are each independent of response on each individual competency statement. Testing was done at the 5% level of significance. The questionnaire was developed through a synthesis of goals stated in twelve family life curriculum guides published since 1965. A working draft of the questionnaire was developmentally tested with three high school seniors and three mothers of teenagers. The survey instrument included provisions for indicating personal data, and offered four categories of "Essential", "Necessary", "Permissible", and "Unimportant", for participants to respond to nine family life topics and seventy competency statements. The population included those couples and individuals voluntarily attending county public health prenatal classes in western Oregon. Data were collected from all five counties with an on-going program. One hundred forty-seven usable questionnaires were obtained. Four instruments were disregarded because of incomplete personal data. Participants in the study ranged from 16 to 45 years of age with a mean age of 25, and with 46.94 percent of the people in the 25 to 29 age group. Males numbered 56 (38. 10 percent) in the participating group, with 91 (61.90 percent) females. Grouped educational levels revealed 27. 21 percent having more than 16 years of education and the groups with 12 years and with 13-15 years of education each being 26. 53 percent of the total sample. Frequency counts and percentages of the total sample indicating favorable responses, were computed and presented for each of the 9 family life topics and 70 competency statements. All 9 family life topics and 64 of the 70 competency statements received a majority (over 50 percent) of favorable responses. Chi-square tests were computed on each item of the questionnaire to test the null hypothesis that age, sex, and educational level are each independent of response. The null hypothesis was rejected for age, in seven instances. Most cases showed younger people responding favorably more often than expected and older people responding less favorably more often than expected. The null hypothesis was rejected for sex in four instances, with males responding less favorably more often and females more favorably more often than expected. The null hypothesis for educational level was rejected in nine instances. More educated people tended to respond less favorably more often and less educated people tended to respond more favorably more often than expected. Implications of the study for the family living curriculum in Oregon secondary schools, as indicated in the opinions of the respondents, are as follows: 1. Family life topics of communicating, understanding yourself, relating to others, understanding sex, being a family member, parenthood, selecting a mate, marriage, and the family relating to the community would be valuable in the family life curriculum. 2. It seems necessary that family life education topics stress making decisions, solving problems, resolving conflicts, and coping with situations. 3. It seems reasonable that sixty-four of the family life competencies identified in this study be incorporated in programs designed to prepare students for their life role as a family member. The sample of expectant parents was a biased group. On speculation it seems that the sample could be quite concerned about the topic and competencies of parenthood. In view of this, the following recommendations for future studies are made: 1. High school students, young married couples not expecting children, and middle aged couples need to be surveyed to identify family life competencies. 2. Learning experiences need to be developed for family life competencies.
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