Motivations for Participation in the Horticultural Certificate Programs at Longwood Gardens
| Author(s) | Haefner, Carl | |
| Date Accessioned | 2007-12-10T04:04:20Z | |
| Date Available | 2007-12-10T04:04:20Z | |
| Publication Date | 1995 | |
| Abstract | The purpose of this thesis was to identify and to describe the motivational orientations of the participants in the horticultural certificate programs at Longwood Gardens, the world’s premier public display garden located near Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. The specific objectives were to describe demographic and other characteristics of the participants, to determine the influence of different motivational orientation factors on participation, to determine any differences in the influence of the motivational orientation factors between participant groups, and to make recommendations related to the management of horticultural certificate programs. A survey was conducted of those attending the Fall courses in the two horticultural certificate programs at Longwood Gardens known as the Certificate of Merit in Ornamental Plants Series I and Series II. The questionnaire included the Education Participation Scale (EPS) along with other items. The EPS quantifies the influence of different motivational orientation factors which represent underlying motivations for participation in adult education. These factors are: social contact, social stimulation, professional advancement, community service, external expectations, and cognitive interest. Results from the survey indicate that cognitive interest and professional advancement have the greatest influence of all EPS factors on participation in these horticultural certificate programs. Significant differences in the influence of the motivational factors were found between participant groups primarily in the areas of professional advancement, external expectations, and cognitive interest. The results of this study provide broad direction for the management of horticultural certificate programs at public horticulture organizations. | en_US |
| Extent | Note: Except for the faculty signature page, which was not digitized, the entire thesis was scanned as formatted by the author. | en |
| URL | http://udspace.udel.edu/handle/19716/2981 | |
| Language | en_US | en_US |
| Publisher | University of Delaware | en_US |
| Keywords | Education - public gardens | en_US |
| Keywords | Training | en_US |
| Keywords | Adult education | en_US |
| Keywords | Instruction | en_US |
| Keywords | Learning | en_US |
| Title | Motivations for Participation in the Horticultural Certificate Programs at Longwood Gardens | en_US |
| Type | Thesis | en_US |