UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN-COOPERATIVE EXTENSION
Program Development & Evaluation
432 N. Lake St., Room 617
Madison, WI 53706
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
RE:
University of Wisconsin-Cooperative Extension County Agents, State Specialists and
Other Users of the Wisconsin 4-H Club Officer Instruments
Heather Boyd
May 31, 2001
Wisconsin 4-H Club Officer Study Evaluation Effort 2001
This packet of information supplies you with materials that support one approach for evaluating
the 4-H club officer experience in your county. I would like to encourage you to use these
materials in your work, if it is appropriate for you to do so.
This packet of material for you is available in a Micro Soft Word format. If your office does not
have Micro Soft Word and you need these materials to be in another format, please contact me at
(608) 263-0857 or heather.boyd@ces.uwex.edu and the Program Development and Evaluation
Unit will work to accommodate your needs.
Please note that this document has half-inch margins, a half-inch header and a half-inch footer.
If you change the margin settings, the questionnaires will lose their formatting. If you
have problems with this feature, select the document, go to FILE, then PAGE SETUP and then
MARGINS. Make sure that all the margins are at 0.5 inch.
History of this Evaluation Effort
In May of 2001, Greg Hutchins, Linda Kustka and I initiated a survey of 4-H club officers and their
parents or guardians. We were interested in building on the work of Wisconsin agents and
specialists in the area of youth and civic leadership. Specifically, this evaluation effort was focused
on learning about youth leadership development and the club officer experience.
We wanted to ask the club officer about his or her experience and we also wanted to ask someone
close to the club officer about the officer’s experience. Thus, we included an element of the
evaluation that asks the officer’s parent or guardian for his or her attitudes.
The methodology we chose was a stratified random sample. Using a computer program, we
selected three counties from each district and asked 4HYD agents of those counties to participate
in the study. For those agents who were willing to participate, we requested a list of club names
from their county. From that list of club names, we selected three clubs at random (using the
same computer program) and asked agents to send questionnaire packets to the club officers of
the three clubs in their county.
You may or may not decide to use a similar methodology. What is important is for you
to keep track of the decisions you make so that you will be able to describe how you
got the results you got. If you would like to discuss how to go about choosing a
method that is appropriate for your situation and you are employed by University of
Wisconsin-Cooperative Extension, please feel free to contact me.
Relevant Parts of this Document for Your Evaluation Effort
ITEM A:
An example of a version of the letter sent to participating agents.
Agents were given 15 packets and were asked to send one packet to each club officer.
Each questionnaire packet that you send should include:
1)
An informed consent letter (ITEM B)
2)
A consent form to be signed by both the officer and the parent/guardian (ITEM C)
3)
A questionnaire for the club officer (ITEM D)
4)
A questionnaire for the parent or guardian (ITEM E)
5)
An envelope (preferably stamped and addressed) for respondents to return their
information to you
ITEM B:
The informed consent letter sent to club officers and their parents/guardians.
Adapt it for your own use by replacing the information in red italics with your
county-appropriate and evaluation-appropriate information.
UW-Extension is currently examining different policies and procedures for involving
youth as subjects of evaluation and research. For this reason, we take a cautious
approach and ask each club officer to consent to participation in the study and one
parent/guardian of each club officer to consent to their child’s participation,
regardless of the age of the club officer.
When you receive the signed and dated consent letters back, separate them from
the questionnaires and store them in a file, drawer or office that is not where you
store the questionnaires. The purpose of having the consent form is to have
documentation that the participants were informed of their rights and agreed to
participate.
ITEM C:
Consent form to be signed and returned with questionnaires
ITEM D:
Club officer questionnaire
ITEM E:
Parent/Guardian questionnaire
Remember to:
Adapt the instruments to what is appropriate for your study.
Include a due date on the informed consent letter.
Include your contact information on the informed consent letter.
Store the signed consent forms separately from the questionnaires to protect respondent
privacy.
Let me know what you learn from your evaluation effort. I am interested in hearing how these
instruments did or did not work for you. Also, if the questionnaires elicit interesting, useful
answers to PART B – the question about the 4-H pledge and the Pledge of Allegiance, please share
these answers via e-mail with Greg Hutchins.
Good luck!
ITEM A: EXAMPLE OF LETTER SENT TO PARTICIPATING AGENTS
April 30, 2001
Thank you very much for helping us to collect information for the Wisconsin 4-H Club Officer
Survey.
Enclosed is your own copy of the questionnaire packet that club officers and their
parents/guardians will receive. This packet is for your information. If anyone contacts you
regarding this survey, these materials should help you to answer their questions. However, if
their questions are more extensive and/or you do not feel comfortable answering them, feel
free to refer them to Heather Boyd at (608) 263-0857. Heather is an Evaluation Specialist
who is working with us on this project.
Also enclosed in this packet are 15 stamped and sealed envelopes. Please address an
envelope to each officer in each of the three following clubs in your county:
INSERT CLUB NAMES HERE
Then, put the addressed envelopes in the mail. If you mail these packets as soon as you are
able, club officers and their parents/guardians will have ample time to return them to us by
June 15, 2001, the date we have requested.
Please also record how many club officers you sent a packet to for each club and send that
information, broken down by club name, to Heather Boyd (heather.boyd@ces.uwex.edu or
608 263-0857). Knowing how many questionnaire packets were sent will help us know how
many we might expect back. It will also help us calculate the response rate to the survey.
The three clubs listed above were selected at random using a computer program. For the
results of our survey to be as useful as possible, it is important that the questionnaire
materials be sent to the officers of these three clubs and that you not substitute any other
officers or any other clubs in your county.
Once questionnaires are returned to us and we compile them at the state level, we will return
information to you about club officer leadership in your county. No club officers or their
parents/guardians will be identified by name in our report to you, so you can assure anyone
who is concerned that their information will remain confidential.
If you think that adult volunteers of the clubs selected would want to know about this study,
please photocopy the letter from Greg Hutchins from your sample packet and send a copy of
the letter to each person’s home address. Again, if they have questions about the study, they
are free to contact Heather Boyd at (608) 263-0857.
Thank you very much for your willingness to help us learn more about the Wisconsin 4-H Club
Officer leadership experience!
ITEM B: INFORMED CONSENT LETTER
DATE
Dear 4-H Club Officer and Parent or Guardian:
The Wisconsin 4-H Program Staff at Cooperative Extension is interested in learning about the
experiences of Wisconsin 4-H club officers. We are asking current club officers to answer a
questionnaire and to have one of their parents or their guardian answer a similar questionnaire.
Then, we are asking that the questionnaires and signed consent form be insert due date and local
contact person name and number here.
In order to conform to requirements for surveying you and your child, we must make the following
information clear:
Your participation and the participation of your child is voluntary.
You or your child may choose to not participate in this study.
Your answers will remain confidential and anonymous.
Once we use an identification number to connect each club officer’s questionnaire with the
questionnaire of his or her parent or guardian, we will keep your consent form separate from
your questionnaire. When we report the results of the study, we will not use your name. We
will not pass the information that you provide to us on to any other person or organization or
write the findings of the study in any way that would identify you as an individual.
If you have questions about this project, you may contact fill in local contact
person’s name, number and address here. Explain the contact person’s relationship to the
study here. Seriously consider having a contact person who is not connected to 4-H in your
county; an unaffiliated person may receive more candid answers.
There are no “right” or “wrong” answers. Give the answer that best fits your thinking and
feeling.
Please complete the questionnaire independently of each other. It is okay for a parent
or guardian to tell the officer what a word means, but let the officer give his or her own
answer.
If you are willing to participate, please sign the attached consent letter and return it with your
questionnaires.
Thank you very much.
Sincerely,
Your name
Your position title
ITEM C: CLUB OFFICER AND PARENT/GUARDIAN CONSENT FORM
CONSENT FORM
Wisconsin 4-H Club Officer Study
Please sign, date and return by DATE to INSERT CONTACT INFORMATION with your completed
questionnaires.
I have read my rights as a study participant and consent to participating in the study described.
(Signature of 4-H Club Officer)
(Date signed)
I have read my child’s rights as a study participant and consent to my child participating in the study
described.
(Signature of Parent or Guardian)
(Date signed)
ITEM D: CLUB OFFICER SURVEY
4-H Club Officer Survey – Club Officer
We are interested in your experience as a 4-H club officer. Please answer the following questions and return your
completed form, your parent or guardian’s completed form and your signed and dated consent form in the enclosed, selfaddressed, stamped envelope INSERT DATE. Your answers will remain confidential. If you have questions about this
survey, please contact INSERT YOUR LOCAL CONTACT INFORMATION.
PART A -- Please tell us about your experience as a 4-H club officer.
Please read each statement below and circle a number 1 through 5 where 1 = “Strongly Disagree” and 5 = “Strongly
Agree.” If the question does not apply to you, please circle “N/A” for “Not Applicable.” Please answer the following
questions specifically related to your experience in 4-H.
Strongly
Strongly
Since I became a 4-H club officer,
Disagree
Agree N/A
1.
I feel more responsible for the success of my 4-H club.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
2.
I listen better to members of my 4-H club who have different
points of view than mine.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
3.
I cooperate better with adults in my 4-H club.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
4.
I cooperate better with youth members of my 4-H club.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
5.
I am more comfortable speaking in front of my 4-H club.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
6.
I am better at organizing activities & events for my 4-H club.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
7.
I know the duties & responsibilities of my 4-H office.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
8.
I am better at helping my 4-H club members make group
decisions.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
9.
I have more fun at 4-H club meetings.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
10.
My friendships in my 4-H club have improved.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
11.
I am more dedicated to my 4-H club.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
12.
I am more dedicated to my community.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
PART B -- Please answer the following question. If you would like, continue your answer on another sheet of
paper and attach that sheet when you finish the questionnaire.
In your own words, what does it mean to you to say the 4-H Pledge and Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning of your club
meetings?
please continue to page 2
Club Officer-page 2
PART C -- Please tell us about your 4-H club.
Strongly
Disagree
1
2
3
4
Strongly
Agree N/A
5
N/A
1.
Most members participate in discussion during club
meetings.
2.
The adult volunteers and youth members of our club
work well together.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
3.
Club members think that our meetings are interesting.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
4.
Club members think that our club activities are interesting.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
5.
Our 4-H club helps make our community a better
place to live.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
PART D – Demographic and Other Information.
1.
Your County __________________
2. Today’s Date
__________________
3.
Name of your club
4.
Place a check next to what position you were elected to this year:
___ president
___ treasurer
___ vice president
___ reporter
___ secretary
___ other (please describe) _________________________________________
5.
Were you a 4-H club officer before your current position? (circle one) Yes No
If you indicated “Yes”, what office did you hold?_____________________________ When did you hold it?
_________
6.
For how many months (rounded to the nearest month) have you held your current position? ____ years ____
months
7.
For how many years have you been a member of 4-H?_______________
8.
What was your age at your last birthday?___________
9.
If you are in an un-graded home-school, please skip to question 10.
If you attend school or learn in a graded home-school, what is your grade? _________
10.
Please circle your gender: Male Female
11.
Have you participated in 4-H club officer training?
12.
In this last year, has your 4-H club worked on any community service projects?
________________________________________________________________
Yes
No
Don’t know
Thank you very much for your participation!
Yes
No
Don’t know
ITEM E: PARENT/GUARDIAN QUESTIONNAIRE
4-H Club Officer Survey – Parent/Guardian
We are interested in your child’s experience as a 4-H club officer. Please answer the following questions and return your
completed form, your child’s completed form and your signed and dated consent form in the enclosed, self-addressed,
stamped envelope by INSERT DATE. Your answers will remain confidential. If you have questions about this survey,
please contact INSERT YOUR LOCAL CONTACT INFORMATION.
Please place a check next to the officer position that your child currently holds:
___ president
___ treasurer
___ vice president
___ reporter
___ secretary
___ other (please describe) _________________________________________
PART A -- Please tell us about your child’s experience as a 4-H club officer.
Please read each statement below and circle a number 1 through 5 where 1 = “Strongly Disagree” and 5 = “Strongly
Agree.” If the question does not apply to your child, please circle “N/A” for “Not Applicable.” Please answer the following
questions specifically related to your child’s experience in 4-H.
Strongly
Strongly
Since my child became a 4-H club officer,
Disagree
Agree N/A
1.
She/he feels more responsible for the success of their 4-H club. 1
2
3
4
5
N/A
2.
She/he listens better to members of their 4-H club who have
different points of view than theirs.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
3.
She/he cooperates better with adults in their 4-H club.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
4.
She/he cooperates better with youth members of their 4-H club. 1
2
3
4
5
N/A
5.
She/he is more comfortable speaking in front of their 4-H club.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
6.
She/he is better at organizing activities & events for their 4-H club.1
2
3
4
5
N/A
7.
She/he knows the duties & responsibilities of their 4-H office.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
8.
She/he is better at helping their 4-H club members make group
decisions.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
9.
She/he has more fun at 4-H club meetings.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
10.
Her/his friendships in their 4-H club have improved.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
11.
She/he is more dedicated to their 4-H club.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
12.
She/he is more dedicated to their community.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
please continue to page 2
Parent/Guardian-page 2
PART B -- Please answer the following question. If you would like, continue your answer on another sheet of
paper and attach that sheet when you finish the questionnaire.
In your own words, what does it mean to you that your child says the 4-H Pledge and Pledge of Allegiance at the beginning
of their club meetings?
PART C -- Please tell us about your child’s 4-H club.
Strongly
Disagree
1
2
3
4
Strongly
Agree
5
N/A
N/A
1.
Most members participate in discussion during club
meetings.
2.
The adult volunteers and youth members of our club
work well together.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
3.
Club members think that our meetings are interesting.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
4.
Club members think that our club activities are interesting.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
5.
Our 4-H club helps make our community a better
place to live.
1
2
3
4
5
N/A
PART D – Demographic and Other Information.
1.
Your County __________________
2. Today’s Date
__________________
3.
Name of your club
4.
Were you in 4-H when you were a child?
Yes
No
5.
Do you help your child in their officer role?
Yes
No
6.
If you answered “Yes” to question 5 above, please describe the ways in which you help your child:
________________________________________________________________
Thank you very much for your participation!