Methodology
Since this study was exploratory in nature, descriptive survey methodology and
correlational design were used. A three section modified-researcher developed instrument was
distributed to FFA members who attended the 2012 Arkansas Leadership Conference. The first
section of the instrument, Youth Leadership Life Skills Development Scale (YLLSDS), was
developed by Seevers, Dormody, and Clason (1995). This is a 30-indicator, unidimensional
instrument that uses a four-point sub-scale ranging from 0 = no gain to 3 = a lot of gain, and has
yielded a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.98. The researchers chose the YLLSDS as the dependent
variable to be used as an evaluation tool to measure self-assessed scores of youth leadership
skills gained through participation in the 2012 Arkansas Leadership Conference. The second and
third sections of the instrument are researcher developed questions pertaining to involvement in
FFA and demographics. This instrument was designed for Arkansas FFA Staff to evaluate selfperceived
leadership life skills FFA members gained by attending the conference.
The instrument was reviewed by a panel of experts including five faculty members, two
doctoral candidates, and one Arkansas FFA state staff member for face and content validity.
Due to recommendations by the expert panel, minor revisions were made. A pilot test was then
conducted to ensure reliability of the researcher modified instrument. A sample of 29
participants who attended the Texas Area I Leadership Camp completed the instrument. After
discarding incomplete instruments, the final pilot group (n = 18) was tested for reliability using a
Cronbach’s alpha on the YLLSDS modified portion of the instrument and yielded an alpha of
0.954.
There were 413 registered participants at the three Arkansas Leadership Conference
sessions. Three hundred twenty-eight surveys were completed, of which 290 instruments were
Journal of Leadership Education DOI: 1012806/V14/I1/R8 Winter 2015
129
deemed usable (n = 290) resulting in a 70.22% response rate. During the conference,
participants attended a reflection workshop where workshop presenters asked them to critically
reflect upon their time at the Arkansas Leadership Conference. Participants completed the
instrument as a component of the reflection workshop in which participants were asked about
their YLLSD after attending the Arkansas Leadership Conference.
To achieve the objectives of this study, data were summarized using measures of central
tendency and variability. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the participants in terms of
demographic variables and to describe the samples’ involvement in FFA. Frequencies and
percentages, means and standard deviations were reported. Next, correlations were used to
understand if relationships existed between YLLS and demographic variables and YLLS and
FFA involvement. The magnitude of the relationship was reported utilizing Davis’ (1971 conventions. All calculations were calculated utilizing SPSS© version 20.
MethodologySince this study was exploratory in nature, descriptive survey methodology andcorrelational design were used. A three section modified-researcher developed instrument wasdistributed to FFA members who attended the 2012 Arkansas Leadership Conference. The firstsection of the instrument, Youth Leadership Life Skills Development Scale (YLLSDS), wasdeveloped by Seevers, Dormody, and Clason (1995). This is a 30-indicator, unidimensionalinstrument that uses a four-point sub-scale ranging from 0 = no gain to 3 = a lot of gain, and hasyielded a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.98. The researchers chose the YLLSDS as the dependentvariable to be used as an evaluation tool to measure self-assessed scores of youth leadershipskills gained through participation in the 2012 Arkansas Leadership Conference. The second andthird sections of the instrument are researcher developed questions pertaining to involvement inFFA and demographics. This instrument was designed for Arkansas FFA Staff to evaluate selfperceivedleadership life skills FFA members gained by attending the conference.The instrument was reviewed by a panel of experts including five faculty members, twodoctoral candidates, and one Arkansas FFA state staff member for face and content validity.Due to recommendations by the expert panel, minor revisions were made. A pilot test was thenconducted to ensure reliability of the researcher modified instrument. A sample of 29participants who attended the Texas Area I Leadership Camp completed the instrument. Afterdiscarding incomplete instruments, the final pilot group (n = 18) was tested for reliability using aCronbach’s alpha on the YLLSDS modified portion of the instrument and yielded an alpha of0.954.There were 413 registered participants at the three Arkansas Leadership Conferencesessions. Three hundred twenty-eight surveys were completed, of which 290 instruments wereJournal of Leadership Education DOI: 1012806/V14/I1/R8 Winter 2015129deemed usable (n = 290) resulting in a 70.22% response rate. During the conference,participants attended a reflection workshop where workshop presenters asked them to criticallyreflect upon their time at the Arkansas Leadership Conference. Participants completed theinstrument as a component of the reflection workshop in which participants were asked abouttheir YLLSD after attending the Arkansas Leadership Conference.To achieve the objectives of this study, data were summarized using measures of centraltendency and variability. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the participants in terms ofdemographic variables and to describe the samples’ involvement in FFA. Frequencies andpercentages, means and standard deviations were reported. Next, correlations were used tounderstand if relationships existed between YLLS and demographic variables and YLLS andFFA involvement. The magnitude of the relationship was reported utilizing Davis’ (1971 conventions. All calculations were calculated utilizing SPSS© version 20.
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