FACTORS WHICH INFLUENCED STUDENTS ENROLLED AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ALABAMA DURING 1980-1985 TO SELECT A MAJOR IN HOME ECONOMICS

The purpose of this study was to identify and examine factors that influenced students to major in home economics. The study analyzed the association between the student's choice for choosing home economics as a major and the following influencing factors: mother, father, high-school home economics teacher, high-school counselor, high-school career day representative, scholarships and financial assistance, enjoyable career, prior experience in the major, enrollment in a high-school home economics course, enrollment in a college home economics course, chance to earn better grades, college brochure on home economics, and an opportunity to earn a good income.;Thirteen null hypotheses were developed and tested using Chi-square at the 0.01 level of significance. They were tested to determine if there were significant associations between the student's choice to major in home economics and the various influencing factors.;The following conclusions were drawn based on the analyses of the data: (1) There was a statistically significant association between the student's choice of a major and maternal influence, paternal influence, and a chance to earn a good income. After checking the frequencies, it can be assumed that those three factors have a positive association with the student's choice of selecting home economics as a major. (2) There was a statistically significant association between the student's choice of a major and enrolling in a high-school home economics course, high-school counselor, high-school career day representative, and career information provided by a college brochure on the major. After checking the frequencies, it can be assumed that those four factors have a negative association with the student's choice of selecting home economics as a major.;This study is a source of information for recruitment of students into home economics on the college level.;The instrument which was developed by the investigator for the purpose of the study was a questionnaire consisting of 57 questions. The questionnaire was administered to 520 students enrolled in The Home and Family of Man-Section 1 (HE 101) and The Home and Family of Man-Section 2 (HE 102) courses during 1980-1985 in the School of Home Economics at The University of Alabama.