An Investigation of School Connectedness among Agricultural Education Students

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Bibliographic Details
Title: An Investigation of School Connectedness among Agricultural Education Students
Language: English
Authors: Witt, Christy, Doerfert, David L., Ulmer, Jonathan D., Burris, Scott, Lan, William
Source: Journal of Agricultural Education. 2013 54(2):186-204.
Availability: American Association for Agricultural Education. P.O. Box 7607, Department of Agricultural and Extension Education, Raleigh, NC 27695. Web site: http://www.aaaeonline.org
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 19
Publication Date: 2013
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Education Level: High Schools
Secondary Education
Descriptors: Student School Relationship, Agricultural Education, Mixed Methods Research, Influences, Educational Environment, Peer Groups, Interpersonal Relationship, Educational Attitudes, Comparative Analysis, High School Students, Predictor Variables, Correlation, Focus Groups, Factor Analysis, Likert Scales
Geographic Terms: Texas
ISSN: 1042-0541
Abstract: Each year, approximately 1.3 million students fail to graduate from high school. One of the reasons cited for dropping out is a lack of connection to the school environment. One way students can connect to their school is through programs and organizations at their school. While there are a large variety of programs in schools that have the potential to promote school connectedness among its students, the parallels to the school connectedness promotion factors present in the foundational principles of agricultural education evoke further investigation. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence that school connectedness promotion factors (i.e. adult support, peer group, commitment to education, and environment) in agricultural education programs have on students' sense of school connectedness. This study utilized a two-phase sequential mixed methods design in which the qualitative data helped explain or build upon the initial quantitative results. The quantitative phase revealed approximately 45% of the variance of the school connectedness scale in the sample can be accounted for by the linear combination of promotion factor measures. The themes from the qualitative phase closely aligned to the school connectedness promotion factors discussed in the quantitative phase with a few additions and modifications recommended.
Abstractor: As Provided
Number of References: 21
Entry Date: 2016
Accession Number: EJ1122323
Database: ERIC
Description
Abstract:Each year, approximately 1.3 million students fail to graduate from high school. One of the reasons cited for dropping out is a lack of connection to the school environment. One way students can connect to their school is through programs and organizations at their school. While there are a large variety of programs in schools that have the potential to promote school connectedness among its students, the parallels to the school connectedness promotion factors present in the foundational principles of agricultural education evoke further investigation. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence that school connectedness promotion factors (i.e. adult support, peer group, commitment to education, and environment) in agricultural education programs have on students' sense of school connectedness. This study utilized a two-phase sequential mixed methods design in which the qualitative data helped explain or build upon the initial quantitative results. The quantitative phase revealed approximately 45% of the variance of the school connectedness scale in the sample can be accounted for by the linear combination of promotion factor measures. The themes from the qualitative phase closely aligned to the school connectedness promotion factors discussed in the quantitative phase with a few additions and modifications recommended.
ISSN:1042-0541