Date of Award
1985
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Abstract
Purpose. The basic purpose of this study was to develop a conceptual framework of economic and social consequences for evaluating Extension work. The general objectives were: (1) to develop and refine a taxonomy of economic and social consequences of Cooperative Extension programs, and (2) to develop a generic model for measuring economic and social consequences of the Cooperative Extension program impacts. Methodology. The respondents were identified by the State Extension Directors. Data were collected using a mail questionnaire. The respondents reacted to an eighty indicator instrument, and their responses were tabulated and analyzed on the basis of appropriateness, importance and measurability ratings of the indicators. The data relative to the importance ratings of the indicators were analyzed also by the job responsibility and the years of service of the respondents. The ANOVA test of .05 level of confidence was used to determine statistical difference. Population. The population of this study consisted of 204 Extension specialists in the Cooperative Extension Service of the U.S. This population was made up of Extension sociologists, Extension economists and resource development, program development and evaluation specialists. Findings. The findings indicated that the indicators proposed were largely accepted as appropriate and important, with measurability perceived as being fairly difficult. The proposed indicators were generally accepted as important for measuring Extension program impacts, with importance scores levels being related in some cases with the specialists' disciplines. Measurability of the indicators as a result of Extension program impacts was perceived as being difficult, and this was more generally true for the subjective indicators, compared with the more quantifiable indicators. Non-Extension factors were also perceived to be major factors in this problem. A person's perception of an indicator as important was found in some instances to be related to job responsibility. There was also a positive relationship in some instances between years of experience and perceptions of the importance of the indicators by the respondents.
Recommended Citation
Yabaya, Solomon Ahyuwa, "Developing a Conceptual Framework for Evaluating Economic and Social Consequences of Cooperative Extension Work Impact (Program Impact Indicators)." (1985). LSU Historical Dissertations and Theses. 4170.
https://repository.lsu.edu/gradschool_disstheses/4170
Pages
297
DOI
10.31390/gradschool_disstheses.4170