A STUDY OF BOY SCOUTS and their SCOUTMASTERS SURVEY RESEARCH CENTER INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN 1959 A STUDY OF BOY SCOUTS AND THEIR SCOUTMASTERS A Report of Four National Surveys Conducted by SURVEY RESEARCH CENTER INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH, THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN Ann Arbor, Michigan for NATIONAL COUNCIL, BOY SCOUTS OF AMERICA New Brunswick, New Jersey Copyright 1960 by The University of Michigan and Boy Scouts of America This report presents findings from three studies on Boy Scouts and their Scoutmasters, their interests, activities and program, their organizational procedures and their achievements, their motivations, expectations and recommendations. The projects were supported by the National Council, Boy Scouts of America, and carried out by the Survey Research Center at The University of Michigan. The studies were directed by Dr. Stephen Withey with the assistance of Dr. Barbara Foster. The research staff included Patricia Billingsley, who, in addition to helping at all stages of the work, is responsible for the Scoutmaster and troop analy• sis, Noel McGinn, who helped in the planning and preliminary analysis of the study of Scouts in troops, and David Niederhauser, who helped in the analysis and reporting of that sub-project. The samples were designed and drawn under the direction of Dr. Bernard Lazerwitz. The field staff of interviewers was directed by Dr. Morrl6 Axelrod, with the administrative assistance of Mary Lou Carpenter. The coding and content analysis of inter• views was directed by Charlotte Winter. The machine tabulation of data was under the direction of Dr. John Sonquist. Secretarial functions were carried out by Joan Beatty. Special thanks are due Mr. Kenneth Wells, Director, Research Service, Boy Scouts of America, for facilitating a close and pro• ductive relationship between the staff of the Survey Research Center and the National Council. 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Acknowledgements Table of Contents Chapter 1: THE GROUPS THAT WERE STUDIED The Studies ^ The Samples A National Sample of Registered Boy Scouts A National Sample of Ex-Boy Scouts among Boys Eleven to Thirteen Years of Age A National Sample of Boy Scouts at Troop Meetings... A National Sample of Scoutmasters A National Sample of Boy Scout Troops Methods of Sample Selection The Sample of Boys The Sample of Troops, Boy Scouts and Scoutmasters .. A Comment on Sampling Chapter 2: THE BOYS THEMSELVES Personal Characteristics Age Grade School Performance .. Physical Fitness .... Possessions Race Intactness of Home .. Siblings Length of Residence . Urbanization Religious Affiliation Father's Occupation . Education of Parents Autonomy ii Chapter 2: continued. The Boy's World 23 Amount of Differentiation 23 Skills of Boys 26 Activities 32 Television 41 Chores 42 Jobs to Earn Money 43 Homework 44 Group Membership 45 Athletic Teams 45 Informal Gang 47 Best Friend 47 Membership in Clubs 48 Group Memberships of Boy Scouts Attending Troop Meetings 50 Boy Scouts' Membership in Groups other than Boy Scouts 50 Membership in Cub Scouts 53 Age of Joining Boy Scouts 55 Tenure in Boy Scouts 56 Attendance at Troop Meetings 56 Rank in Boy Scouts 57 Experience as a Patrol or Assistant Patrol Leader 57 Summary 59 Chapter 3: THE SCOUTMASTERS THEMSELVES 60 Personal Characteristics 60 Age of Scoutmasters 61 Family Constellation 61 Length of Residence in the Community 65 Religious Affiliation 65 Education 67 Occupation 69 Income 69 Race 70 Experiences in Scouting .. 71 Experiences in Scouting as a Boy 71 Experiences in Scouting as an Adult 75 Community Activities and Group Membership 82 iii Chapter 3: continued Scoutmasters' Training 88 Training Received by Scoutmasters 89 Evaluation of Training 93 Participation in and Evaluation of Round Tables .... 97 Need for More Training 100 Summary 104 Chapter 4: CHARACTERISTICS OF BOY SCOUT TROOPS AND SOURCES OF SUPPORT FOR TROOPS AND SCOUTMASTERS 106 General Characteristics of Troops 106 Size of Troop 106 Average Attendance at Troop Meetings 107 Number of Patrols 107 Number of Years Troops Had Been Organized 108 Location of Troop Meeting Place 108 Racial and Religious Composition of Troops ......... 109 Average Age of Boys in Troops Ill Average Rank of Boys in Troops Ill " Use of Uniforms 112 Sources of Support for Boy Scout Troops 112 Function of the Sponsoring Organization 114 Support from the Scout Organization 115 Support from Parents 118 Summary *•>.. 121 Chapter 5: PUSHES AND PULLS TOWARD SCOUTING: THE SCOUTS 123 Motivations to Join •. 123 Stated Reasons for Joining Scouts 123 Influence of Cub Scouts 126 Reasons Non-Scouts Have Not Joined 128 Influence of Others 129 Ex-Boy Scouts 133 If You Quit 139 What is Good About Scouting 142 Future Plans in Scouting 147 Summary - 148 iv Chapter 6: PUSHES AND PULLS TOWARD SCOUTING: THE SCOUTMASTERS 149 Reasons for Becoming a Scoutmaster 149 Stated Reasons 149 Influence of Friends 152 Influence of Family 154 Scoutmasters' Goals 157 Satisfactions and Dissatisfactions in the Job 165 Aspects of the Job Enjoyed Most 165 Aspects of the Job Disliked Most 167 Extra Bonuses 168 Degree of Satisfaction Felt 169 Summary , 170 Chapter 7: SCOUTS VIEW THE PROGRAM AND OPERATION OF THE TROOP 172 Scouts Describe the Program ' 17 2 Frequency of Patrol Meetings 175 What the Patrol Leader Does 175 Scouts Describe Decision Making in the Troop 178 Deciding Who Will Be Patrol Leader 178 Deciding What the Troop Will Do and Behavior of Scouts at Meetings 180 Scouts Evaluate Operation of the Troops , 183 Evaluation of Patrol Sire and Interaction 183 Evaluation of Troop Size 185 Evaluation of Parts of the Troop Meeting 186 Evaluation of- the Advancement System * 192 Summary 196 Chapter 8: SCOUTMASTERS VIEW THE PROGRAM AND OPERATION OF THEIR TROOPS 197 The Patrol System 197 Program Activities 206 Activities Outside of Troop Meetings 209 v Chapter 8: continued. Evaluation of Troop Operation and Program 212 Problems in Working with the Boys 212 Evaluation of Troop Functioning 217 Size of Troop 220 Evaluation of Troop Advancement Program 221 Programs Considered Unsuitable for the Troop 222 Problems Related to Location of Troop 222 Quarterly and Other Program Suggestions Inappropriate for Troop 224 Reasons Related to Troop Size, Physical Facilities, Idiosyncratic Troop Factors 225 Financial Problems 225 Problems Related to Explorer Program 226 Problems Related to Organizational Factors 227 Advancement Difficulties 228 Miscellaneous 228 Suggestions for Additions to the Program 229' Inter-troop Activities 229 Athletics and Sports 230 Physical Development and Survival Training 231 Special Program Areas 232 Facilities 233 Educational Materials, Literature, National Program Suggestions 234 Other 235 Parts of Program Causing Difficulty for the Scoutmaster. 235 Personal Problems of Scoutmaster 235 Financial Problems 236 Lack of Parental Cooperation, Additional Help 237 Problems Related to Advancement Program 238 Problems Related to Troop Size, Facilities, Idiosyncratic Troop Factors 239 Problems Related to Inappropriate Program 240 Problems Related to Specific Activities or Skills .. 241 Camping 241 Signaling 242 Others 242 Lack of Information 242 Administrative Problems 243 Miscellaneous Problems 243 vi Chapter 8: continued Difficulties Related to Specific Requirements in the Advancement Program , 244 Problems Related to Signaling 244 Problems Stemming from Lack of Interest 244 Problems Related to Troop Location and Facilities .. 245 Other Problems 246 Summary 246 Chapter 9: BOY SCOUTS VIEW THEIR SCOUTMASTERS1 LEADERSHIP 248 Description of the Scoutmaster's Role 248 Likeness of Scoutmaster to the Fathers of Scouts ... 248 Perception of Leader Behavior 251 Description of an "Ideal Scoutmaster" 257 Evaluation of Leadership 259 Comparison between "Ideal" and "Real" Leadership Qualities 259 What Scouts Wish Their Scoutmasters Would Do 260 Scouts' Rating of Their Scoutmasters 261 Summary 263 Chapter 10: SCOUTMASTERS VIEW THEIR OWN LEADERSHIP 264 Job Description 264 Style of Leadership as Related to Source of Confidence . 268 Leader Behavior 274 Ideal Scoutmaster 280 Evaluation of Leadership ..... .286 Summary 292 Chapter 11: A SUMMARY 293 Objectives of the Study 293 Methods of Study 293 An Overview of the Summary 294 Boy Scouts 294 Boys' Autonomy 296 Boys' World 296 Boys' Activities and Preferences 297 vii Chapter 11: continued. Boys' Skills 300 Troops 301 Scoutmasters 303 Training 304 The Job 305 Troop Activities 306 Advancement System 310 Patrol System 310 Problems, Strengths and Weaknesses 313 Leadership 314 Leadership Goals 317 Methods or Styles of Leadership 318 Evaluation of the Scoutmaster's Leadership 319 Pushes and Pulls Toward Scouting 320 Appendix A: BOY SCOUTS AND THE BASIC ADVANCEMENT PROGRAM 325 Appendix B: SAMPLING ERROR 342 Appendix C: THE QUESTIONNAIRES 353 Troop Information Sheet 355 Interviewer's Guide for Administering the Troop Questionnaire 355 Troop Questionnaire - National Study of Boy Scout Troops 369 Scoutmaster Questionnaire *..... 391 Scoutmasters' Guide for Administering the Questionnaire on the Basic Advancement Program 403 Questionnaire on Basic Advancement Program - National Study of Boy Scout Troops 405 Appendix D: SUPPLEMENTARY TABLES 415 viii Chapter 1 THE GROUPS THAT WERE STUDIED The Studies The research described in this report involved three studies that were carried out at the same time but dealt with different sets of people and utilized different questionnaires. The three studies were the following: A national study of boys eleven