4-H is the youth development organization of our nation’s Cooperative Extension System and USDA.
Table of Contents Introduction: Background and Objectives
3
Research Method
4
Sub Group Definition
5
Executive Summary
6
Detailed Findings: What is leadership and who are the strong leaders?
13
The leadership gap: there is room for improvement among today’s leaders
18
Youth want to lead – and for good reasons
25
What is most important to youth?
31
Are youth prepared to lead?
34
How can adults better equip youth to lead?
41
Interest in 2016 presidential election and candidates
47
Perceptions and involvement with 4-H
51
Scorecards
56
Additional Profiles
69
Demographics
71
Appendix:
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4-H is the youth development organization of our nation’s Cooperative Extension System and USDA.
Background and Objectives • National 4-H Council (Council) conducted a survey for public release to capture the pulse of America’s youth – particularly using their own words to describe how they feel about their readiness to lead today and tomorrow. This research will be used to complement a revised brand messaging campaign which Council will be launching. • More specifically, Council is looking to: ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦ ◦
Measure youth’s perceptions of “true leadership” Understand leadership priorities Identify specific needs to feel empowered to lead Explore areas where youth feel they are ready to lead And conversely, where they feel unprepared to lead
• In working to achieve these goals, Council commissioned Harris Poll to conduct a quantitative research study to help establish 4-H as a destination for content and thought leadership on positive youth development.
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4-H is the youth development organization of our nation’s Cooperative Extension System and USDA.
Research Method • Qualified respondents were: ◦
Residents of the U.S, balanced across the 4 regions where 4-H operates (Northeast, North Central, Southern and Western regions)
◦
Grades 9th to 12th
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Ages 13 to 19
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Balanced by gender across grade
◦
Balanced across race and ethnicity to ensure representativeness and ability for sub group analysis
• The data were weighted to ensure that relevant demographic characteristics of the sample matched the 13 to 19 year old population in the U.S. • The data were also weighted to key attitudinal and behavioral measures that we have determined are indicators of one’s likelihood to be online, be a member of an online survey panel and complete an online interview. • Percentages were rounded to the nearest whole percent. Differences in the sums of combined categories/answers are due to rounding.
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4-H is the youth development organization of our nation’s Cooperative Extension System and USDA.
• 1,501 interviews were conducted online from February 2 - 17, 2016 averaging approximately 23 minutes in length
Sub Group Definitions • Throughout the report several there are several call outs of significant findings among various sub groups. Those sub groups are defined as follows:
Leader Experience Gender
Q940 In which of the following situations do you personally have a leadership role? -Active Leader (3+ selections for Q940) -Leader (1-2 selections for Q940) -Non-Leader (0 selections for Q940)
Region Northeast
North Central
Southern
Western
Ethnicity
Grade
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4-H is the youth development organization of our nation’s Cooperative Extension System and USDA.
Opinion Elite Q920 Which of the following, if any, have you done in the past 12 months? -Opinion Elite (4+ selections at Q670) -Non-Elite (
