Delaware Secondary Guidance Counselors' Attitudes toward Home Economics Education.

A study in the fall of 1988 investigated counselors' attitudes toward home economics. The sample consisted of 80 counselors, a 48 percent return from all counselors in Delaware's secondary schools with home economics programs. A mailed questionnaire included demographic items and twenty-three 4-point Likert-type attitude items. Data analyses indicated no significant differences in attitude responses by counselors' sex, age, years of service, educational level, work experience, type of school, or size of school. Differences were found when looking at the variable of the counselors' undergraduate degrees. Those with a physical education specialty had the most positive mean attitude score, whereas those with a math specialty had the least positive mean attitude score. There was an overall positive attitude of counselors toward home economics education. The counselors were very favorable toward the purpose and worth of home economics, but less favorable toward the image of home economics education. The counselors agreed strongly that both courses, and that home economics should be part of the total courses and that home economics should be part of the total educational program. (24 references) (CML)