February 10, 2009 Kirk A. AstrothUniversity of Arizona

Scholarship in 4-H Youth Development

Growing the Field

February 10, 2009 Kirk A. AstrothUniversity of Arizona

What is Scholarship?

• Intellectual work that is--– Based on a high level of professional expertise– Grounded in an identifiable body of knowledge– Significant (meaningful) – Relevant (valued by those who would use it)

• Documented and validated by peers• Communicated to others in order to have

impact on others or the field• Results in improved practices

February 10, 2009 Kirk A. AstrothUniversity of Arizona

What Scholarship is NOT

• Good community work

• Philosophical musings

• Newsletters

• Self-published works

• Editorials

• Personal columns

February 10, 2009 Kirk A. AstrothUniversity of Arizona

Scholarship is NOT a Spectator Sport

• Know the Field– Who are the top 5 researchers in youth

development today?

• Do you know…– Karen Pittman– Jacqueline Eccles– Richard Lerner

February 10, 2009 Kirk A. AstrothUniversity of Arizona

Scholarship is NOT a Spectator Sport

• Apply the Field– How does youth development research

inform your own work?

February 10, 2009 Kirk A. AstrothUniversity of Arizona

Scholarship is NOT a Spectator Sport

• Grow the Field– What are you doing to add to youth

development scholarship?

February 10, 2009 Kirk A. AstrothUniversity of Arizona

Scholarship is NOT a Spectator Sport

• Promote the Field– What are you doing to talk about youth

development to others?– How do you represent the field publicly?

February 10, 2009 Kirk A. AstrothUniversity of Arizona

Resources

• Astroth, K.A. (2004). 4-H Youth Development, Scholarship, and Land Grant Universities. Journal of Higher Education Outreach and Engagement Volume 9, Number 1: pp.87-102.

• Astroth, K.A. (2003, December). Doorway, Doormat or Doghouse: The Challenges Facing 4-H Youth Development Scholarship in Land-Grant Universities. Journal of Extension: 41(6). On line at: http://www.joe.org/joe/2003december/comm1.shtml

February 10, 2009 Kirk A. AstrothUniversity of Arizona

Questions?