Consumer Education Knowledge, Attitude, and Experiences Of
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Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1986 Consumer education knowledge, attitude, and experiences of selected groups in Trinidad and Tobago: basis for curriculum development Theodora Eleanora Alexander Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Home Economics Commons Recommended Citation Alexander, Theodora Eleanora, "Consumer education knowledge, attitude, and experiences of selected groups in Trinidad and Tobago: basis for curriculum development " (1986). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 8133. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/8133 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. 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MI48106 Consumer education knowledge, attitude, and experiences of selected groups in Trinidad and Tobago: Basis for curriculum development by Theodora Eleanora Alexander A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of •DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Major: Home Economics Education Approved; Members of the Committee: Signature was redacted for privacy. In Charge of Major Work Signature was redacted for privacy. Signature was redacted for privacy. For the Major Department Signature was redacted for privacy. For the Graduate College Iowa State University Ames, Iowa 1986 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION 1 Statement of the Problem 2 Explanation of Dissertation Format 3a LITERATURE REVIEW 4 Adolescent Consumer Socialization 5 Research Pertaining to Students, Parents, and Teachers 26 Related Consumer Education Research 44 Variables Influencing Consumer Education Knowledge, Attitude, and Experiences 79 SECTION I. CONSUMER EDUCATION COMPETENCIES OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, TEACHERS, AND PARENTS IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 86 ABSTRACT 88 STATEMENT OF PURPOSE AND RATIONALE 89 METHODOLOGY 91 Sample 91 Instrumentation 94 Data Collection 95 DATA ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS 97 Knowledge Test 97 Differences in Knowledge 97 Attitude Inventory 98 Differences in Attitude 100 Experiences in Consumer Education 101 iii Page DISCUSSION 104 IMPLICATIONS 111 REFERENCES 113 SECTION II. RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN CONSUMER EDUCATION COGNITIVE AND AFFECTIVE BEHAVIORS OF SELECTED AUDIENCES IN TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO 114 ABSTRACT 116 INTRODUCTION 117 PROCEDURE 120 Sample 120 ItLStrument and Data Collection 122 Data Analysis 124 FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 126 Values Underlying Education for Consumption 126 Consumer Decision Making 133 Consumer and the Economic Environment 136 Consumer Information: Location, Evaluation, Processing 137 Consumer Eights and Responsibilities 138 CONCLUSIONS 141 REFERENCES 144 SUMMARY, CONCLUSION. AND RECOMMENDATIONS 145 Summary 145 Conclusion 150 Recommendations 150 iv Page BIBLIOGRAPHY 152 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 159 APPENDIX A. CONSUMER EDUCATION QUESTIONNAIRE 161 APPENDIX B. ANSWER KEY TO ITEMS ON ACHIEVEMENT TEST AND ATTITUDE INVENTORY 179 APPENDIX C. COVER LETTERS FOR QUESTIONNAIRE 181 APPENDIX D. CORRESPONDENCE: CONSUMER EDUCATION RESEARCH 185 APPENDIX E. HUMAN SUBJECTS APPROVAL 194 APPENDIX F. TABLE OF SPECIFICATIONS 196 APPENDIX G. CHARACTERISTICS OF SAMPLE 200 APPENDIX H. FREQUENCIES AND PERCENTAGES FOR RESPONSES TO INDIVIDUAL ITEMS ON EXPERIENCES IN CONSUMER EDUCATION CONCEPTS 206 APPENDIX I. FREQUENCIES AND PERCENTAGES FOR EXPERIENCE ITEMS WnH "YES/NO" RESPONSES FOR STUDENTS, PARENTS, AND TEACHERS 209 APPENDIX J. ITEM FACTOR ASSIGNMENTS BY HIGHEST FACTOR LOADING 212 APPENDIX K. SCHOOLS IN PILOT STUDY 215 APPENDIX L. SCHOOLS IN MAIN STUDY 217 APPENDIX M. CODING PLAN FOR DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES 219 V LIST OF TABLES Page Table 1. Means, standard deviations, and F-ratios for knowledge of consumer education and attitude factor scores of students, parents, and teachers 98 Table 2. Reliability coefficients on factors representing attitude toward consumer education 100 Table 3. Means, standard deviations, and F-ratios for scores on selected consumer education experiences of students, parents, and teachers 102 Table 4. Pearson product-moment correlations among knowledge, attitude, and experiences scores in five consumer education content areas for students, parents, and teachers 127 Table 5. Pearson product-moment correlations between knowledge, attitude, experiences scores in five consumer education content areas and selected independent variables for students 129 Table 6. Pearson product-moment correlations between knowledge, attitude, experiences scores in five consumer education content areas and selected independent variables for parents 131 Table 7. Pearson product-moment correlations between knowledge, attitude, experiences scores in five ccnsuEsr education content areas and selected independent variables for teachers 134 Table F.l. Table of specifications for Consumer Education Inventory (items by major concept areas and subcoûcepts) 197 Table G.I. Student characteristics (N=413) 201 Table G.2. Parent characteristics (N=285) 203 Table G.3. Teacher characteristics (N=22) 205 Table H.l. Frequencies and percentages for responses to individual items on experiences in consumer education concepts 207 vi Page Table I.l. Frequencies and percentages for experience items with "Yes/No" responses for students, parents, and teachers 210 Table J.l. Item factor assignments by highest factor loading 213 Table K.l. Schools in pilot study 216 Table L.l. Schools in main study 218 1 INTRODUCTION Consumer education for citizens of Trinidad and Tobago is a relatively new educational focus. Recent trends in the country's economy have underscored the need for this current emphasis. Because intelligent consumption behaviors appear to be one basis for improving the quality of life for individuals and families, a well-conceived consumer education program might prove most effective in improving consumers' competencies. If there is general agreement that improvement of personal and family life is intertwined with efficient consumption, then it is difficult to conceive of the role of home economics without focusing on the area of consumer education. With its focus on helping individuals and families to improve their quality of life, home economics can contribute immensely to the improvement of consumer education competencies of citizens of Trinidad and Tobago, and eventually to the economic well-being of the nation. Educational administrators in Trinidad and Tobago are continuously being challenged to make important decisions when planning new programs or expanding the scope of existing programs. They are frequently confronted with the lack of valuable empirical data for effective decision making. The availability of pertinent research-based data might facilitate the effectiveness of the decision-making process in their efforts to direct the expansion of the educational system. A variety of studies in the area of consumer education can be found in the literature. These pertain to North American countries. No such studies exist for Trinidad and Tobago. Before the educational system can meet the challenge of the nation for education in new areas, it seems necessary that certain assessments be 2 made of the current competencies of the clientele it intends to serve and the expertise of the personnel who will be required to carry out the program. Educational planners in Trinidad and Tobago are somewhat handicapped by the unavailability of such valuable information. This current study, the first of its kind on the topic for the country, aims to provide such data pertinent to consumer education. Information on personal and demographic factors which might have some relationship to subjects' consumer education competencies might also assist educators in the development of effective