Publication Date

1990

Document Type

Dissertation/Thesis

First Advisor

Winsor, Helen Bruce

Degree Name

M.S. (Master of Science)

Legacy Department

Department of Human and Family Services

LCSH

Home economics--Study and teaching (Secondary); Rural schools; High school students--Education

Abstract

This study reports perceptions of rural high school students about home economics. The purpose of this study was to: 1. increase understanding of Vocational Home Economics, and 2. determine topic areas chosen by students as most important to be included in home economics. Two rural consolidated high schools in northern Illinois were used for data collection. Students were surveyed in their Social Studies classes, using a questionnaire developed from research by R.M. Perau in 1984, C.U. Ley in 1984, and H.B. Winsor in 1979. Students ranked, on a three-point scale, the topics in home economics according to importance. This questionnaire included demographic items concerning the students' (1) school activities, (2) perceptions of home economics students and curriculum, and (3) topics they would like to see taught in home economics classes. The chi-square tests of homogeneity were used to examine the relationship of the topics within each of the six subject-matter areas of home economics. Topics were also analyzed with gender and grade level as the independent variables using the Mann-Whitney U Test. The Chronbach's alpha on the topics that were included revealed a reliability coefficient of .9726. Conclusions reached from this study are that rural high school students feel they do not have time in their schedules for home economics classes. They were serious and practical in their rankings, showing a mature approach to their present and future needs.

Comments

Includes bibliographical references (pages 40-41)

Extent

67 pages

Language

eng

Publisher

Northern Illinois University

Rights Statement

In Copyright

Rights Statement 2

NIU theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from Huskie Commons for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without the written permission of the authors.

Media Type

Text

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