HOME ECONOMISTS AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

Scope and Method of Study. This study investigated (1) the political participation behaviors of home economists; (2) their attitudes toward political roles; and (3) their attitudes toward preparation for political participation through professional education experiences in home economics units in colleges and universities and in the AHEA and state home economics associations. Background variables which correlated with active political participation were identified. A questionnaire was mailed to 399 randomly sampled members of the AHEA from the Colleges and Universities Professional Section. It was returned by 318 respondents (80 percent); 306 (77 percent) were usable. Statistical procedures for this study included chi square, Kruskal-Wallis and Spearman rho.;Findings and Conclusions. The only demographic variable which was related to political participation was age of the respondents. Home economists aged 40 and above were more active and those between 20 and 30 were less active than expected based on chi square analysis. There was a positive relationship (p = .0001) between political skill building experiences and political participation. Results of Spearman rho correlations indicated significant positive relationships between attitudes toward political roles and the preparation for those roles and political participation. Chi square tests indicated a significant positive relationship between political preparatory activities in home economics units and size of enrollment in those units. More activities were present in large units and less were present in small units than expected. Among suggestions for related studies were further research relating to political socialization, the development of a political effectiveness model for college and university faculty, and a comparison of political mobilization processes by special interest and professional groups.