TY - JOUR
T1 - “That’s Just a Part of Growing Up”
T2 - A Study of Non-formal Educators’ Lay Theories of Adolescence
AU - Davis, William J.
AU - Cox, Milira
AU - Tevington, Patricia
AU - Brown Urban, Jennifer
AU - Linver, Miriam R.
N1 - Funding Information:
The author(s) disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This study was conducted as part of a grant funded by the S.D. Bechtel, Jr. Foundation (grant #8325).
Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2021.
PY - 2022/9
Y1 - 2022/9
N2 - This instrumental case study explored non-formal educators’ lay theories of adolescence using the case of the Boy Scouts of America’s Scouts BSA program, a co-ed program serving youth between the ages of 11 and 17. We conducted an iterative analysis of 110 structured interviews with Scouts BSA adult volunteer leaders who served as scoutmasters or assistant scoutmasters. Results indicated that participants discussed adolescence in terms of youth characteristics as well as processes youth underwent during their adolescent years. These adults sometimes viewed adolescence as idiosyncratic, identifying differences in learning, behavior, and family situations among youth, particularly those whom they had identified as exhibiting specific challenges like autism. The results also illustrated relationships between the program and lay theories of adolescence. Namely, core Scouts BSA programmatic structures and expectations such as operating the patrol/troop method hierarchies, building leadership skills, camping or outdoor activities, and including all youth in activities influence participants’ own views of adolescence, including their views of adolescence as a time to cultivate maturity and independence. The study concludes with a brief discussion of results and limitations of the study, including recommendations for training and additional research.
AB - This instrumental case study explored non-formal educators’ lay theories of adolescence using the case of the Boy Scouts of America’s Scouts BSA program, a co-ed program serving youth between the ages of 11 and 17. We conducted an iterative analysis of 110 structured interviews with Scouts BSA adult volunteer leaders who served as scoutmasters or assistant scoutmasters. Results indicated that participants discussed adolescence in terms of youth characteristics as well as processes youth underwent during their adolescent years. These adults sometimes viewed adolescence as idiosyncratic, identifying differences in learning, behavior, and family situations among youth, particularly those whom they had identified as exhibiting specific challenges like autism. The results also illustrated relationships between the program and lay theories of adolescence. Namely, core Scouts BSA programmatic structures and expectations such as operating the patrol/troop method hierarchies, building leadership skills, camping or outdoor activities, and including all youth in activities influence participants’ own views of adolescence, including their views of adolescence as a time to cultivate maturity and independence. The study concludes with a brief discussion of results and limitations of the study, including recommendations for training and additional research.
KW - adolescent development
KW - educator preparation
KW - lay theories
KW - non-formal education
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85118549873&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1177/07435584211056076
DO - 10.1177/07435584211056076
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85118549873
SN - 0743-5584
VL - 37
SP - 714
EP - 742
JO - Journal of Adolescent Research
JF - Journal of Adolescent Research
IS - 5
ER -