Bibliographies of Camp-related Research

Bibliographies of Camp-related Research

Self Concepts and Activity Preference of Participants of Seven Organized Summer Outdoor Residential Camps
Warder, Donald Scott
Thesis. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 1973

Purpose:
Examination of the effects of composition ratios of campers from economically advantaged and disadvantaged backgrounds on self-esteem and activity preference choices.

Sample:
Approximately 600 children attending one of seven camps, one week and two week sessions, with differing proportions of economically advantaged and disadvantaged children.

Methods/Instruments:
Pre-, post-test, Self-concept Scale, Activity Preference Scale (developed for this study).

Results:

• Significant increase in self-concept scores for advantaged subjects following the camp experience.
• No significant differences in perception of ideal self concept for advantaged or disadvantaged subjects.
• Significant increase of preference for neighborhood indoor activities by both advantaged and disadvantaged subjects regardless of length of camp (1-week or 2-week).
• Significant increase of preference for neighborhood outdoor activities by both advantaged and disadvantaged subjects regardless of length of camp.
• Significant decrease for away from neighborhood outdoor activities for both advantaged and disadvantaged subjects.
• No significant interactions between length of camp and pre-test/post-test.
• No significant correlations between advantaged/disadvantaged proportions of campers and Self-Concept and Activity Preference Scales.
• Significantly greater variation in Self Ideal Concept subscale responses for disadvantaged subjects, significantly correlated to length of session, but not correlated to advantaged/disadvantaged proportions.