Cooperative and Competitive Orientations in 4-H and Non-4-H Children: A Pilot Study

Abstract

This study constructed questionnaire measures of cooperative and competitive orientations, and pilot-tested them with 1,176 elementary school-age 4-H members and non-members. A measure of parent support was also obtained from these children. Factor analyses revealed that competitive and cooperative learning orientations are orthogonal and not oppositional. Analyses of variance revealed that 4-H members have lower competitive and cooperative orientations, compared to non-members; also, that boys have substantially higher cooperative orientations than girls. These unexpected results need replication.