Careers in dairy: adolescents perceptions and attitudes

ABSTRACT

Purpose: This paper examines the attitudes and perceptions of Irish adolescents towards potential careers in dairy farming within the context of generational renewal for a dynamic agri-food sector.

Design/methodology/approach: The lens of occupational choice theory was used to present a framework within which potential careers are considered. A questionnaire-survey was undertaken with 490 Irish adolescents (15–18 yrs).

Findings: While parents have the greatest influence on the career choices of adolescents, there was a positive correlation between studying agricultural science in school and considering an agricultural related career. Adolescent's attitudes towards careers in dairy farming were subject to perceptions about gender, farm ownership, potential income and work-life balance. There was a high degree of openness to gaining work experience on dairy farms.

Practical implications: With an increased interest in agricultural science in second level schools in Ireland, the findings point to opportunities to influence awareness and attitudes of adolescents and their parents about career possibilities in dairy farming and to encourage both familial and non-familiar generational renewal.

Theoretical implications: The paper contributes an understanding of career choices and aspirations in adolescence to add to the growing body of literature on generational renewal in farming.

Originality/value: This paper focuses specifically on dairy farming, providing more detailed information about adolescents’ perceptions of dairy farming careers. The study highlights the positive relationship between studying agricultural science in school and subsequent interest in agricultural related careers. The results indicate that generation renewal in agriculture can be enhanced by giving increased attention to agriculture in school curricula.     

Improvement in Reading Achievement Through Perceptual-Motor Training

Abstract

Forty-two underachieving grade 1 children matched for age, sex, IQ, and Lee-Clark reading grade level were randomly assigned to one of three groups. One group received perceptual-motor training, the second received exercises from the regular physical education curriculum, and the third group served as a control. After seven weeks of training (two periods a week) reading achievement was reassessed. The experimental group was found to have made statistically significant gains, while the other two groups had made no such gains.     

The Measurement of Child Behavior in Terms of Its Social Stimulus Value

This study proposed to determine the policy of a single university department concerning admissions to the doctoral program. A Q-sort technique was used with several attributes of each graduate listed on an index card. The twelve members of the graduate faculty rated each graduate by placing a profile into one of seven piles. The number in each pile was fixed. Each rater’s policy was captured by using multiple linear regression. With the use of the Judgment Analysis technique (JAN), the raters were placed into appropriate clusters, and it was found that at least two separate judgment systems were present.