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Psychological and Situational Variables
in the Summer Camp Setting
Chenery, Mary Faeth
Thesis. North Carolina State University
at Raleigh 1979
Purpose:
Explore the "characteristics and dynamics"
of summer camp and the psychosocial developmental
effects on campers.
Sample:
77 girls, ages 8-12, majority from upper-middle
to upper class backgrounds, attending a
7½ week girls summer residential camp. 13
female counselors.
Methods/Instruments:
The study consisted of two parts using the
same sample. 1) investigation of self-concept,
social competence, and parent and counselor
relationships to campers. 2) examination
of the camp program activities.
Pre-, post-test, Piers-Harris Children's
Self-Concept Scale (SCS), modified for
post-test to avoid recognition by subjects
and addition of six "affective climate"
items. Schaefer's Children's Report of
Parent Behavior Inventory (CRPBI) used
for both mothers and counselors, Classroom
Behavior Inventory (CBI), Camper Questionnaire,
"Data Record for Activity Settings"
designed by researcher to summarize camp
activity observations.
Results:
- Increase in positive self-concept. No
significant correlation to age, grade,
previous camp attendance or socioeconomic
status.
- No significant change in positive behaviors,
significant increase in negative behaviors.
- No significant relationships found between
self-concept and social competence changes.
- No significant difference in campers
perceptions of mothers and counselors.
- Significant correlation between self-concept
and perceptions of mothers and counselors.
- Significant association between perceptions
of counselor acceptance and social competence.
- Perceptions of counselor acceptance
and control associated with self-concept
change, perceptions of counselor acceptance
only associated with positive behavior
change.
- Significant correlation in self-concept
change and peer acceptance.
- No significant correlation between changes
in behavior and peer acceptance.
- "Most activities were not intellectually
demanding".
- "Certain kinds of behaviors occurred
more frequently in particular settings".
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