Adolescent Patterns of Participation in Sherburne and Wright County 4-H

Abstract

Adolescent Patterns of Participation in Sherburne and Wright County 4-H was a replication study of the Tufts University study in 2005-2007 that measured the “5Cs” of positive youth development in young adolescents in grades 5, 6, and 7. This replication study was done with older adolescents in grades 10, 11, 12, and 13 in the Sherburne and Wright County 4-H program. The “5Cs” of positive youth development were connection, competence, character, caring, and confidence. The subjects rated questions about the “5Cs” in the survey. Roth (2004) suggested that positive youth development programs needed to increase the levels of the “5Cs" in the youth participating in the program. A product of a positive youth development program like 4-H, would be to instill the characteristics of the “5Cs” in youth. As youth develop these characteristics, they grow to become good citizens. This would be one way the 4-H program could provide public value. The results of this survey allowed comparisons to be made between the Tufts study and this study.