| The primary aim of this study was to determine the image of home economics as perceived by three populations: (a) students, (b) parents/surrogate parents, and (c) professional school personnel. Based upon a review of current literature and research, a somewhat negative perception of home economics was revealed. The specific purposes, therefore, of this study were to: (1) Develop a profile of the perceived image of home economics. (2) Formulate a statistical basis upon which to structure future strategies for marketing home economics.;A random sample was selected from each of the populations chosen. One hundred and fifty-six revised questionnaires were administered, proportionally, to the three selected groups.;The analysis of the data included the treatment of the data and the tests of hypotheses. Pearson product-moment correlations, one-way analyses of variance, and frequency distributions were calculated according to prescribed programs.;Based upon the data generated by this study, demographic variables appeared to have little influence upon perceptions of home economics. Home economics was viewed as a woman's field that equipped one with the skills affiliated with cooking, sewing, and housekeeping. Parents, however, indicated a more positive perception of home economics; this group associated the teaching of management with home economics. The ranking of the 56 items based upon the mean revealed a need for a public relations program to interpret home economics at all levels to appropriate individuals. There also appeared to be a difference between the way individuals who were within the high school on a daily basis perceived home economics. Recommendations for further study also were included.;The Thurstone technique was utilized to develop an instrument capable of measuring the perceived image of home economics. As result, a 56-item questionnaire was developed. |
