Evaluating the Objectives of Agricultural Extension Programs.

Autor/in	Nitsch, Ulrich
Titel	Evaluating the Objectives of Agricultural Extension Programs.
Quelle	(1980), (25 Seiten)Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; Monographie
Schlagwörter	Agriculture; Aspiration; Attitudes; Educational Quality; Evaluation Criteria; Evaluation Methods; Farmers; Formative Evaluation; Needs Assessment; Objectives; Program Development; Program Evaluation; Rural Development; Rural Education; Rural Extension; Sweden + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Landwirtschaft; Streben; Attitude; Einstellung; Verhalten; Quality of education; Bildungsqualität; Farmer; Agriculturist; Landwirt; Landwirtin; Bedarfsermittlung; Goal definition; Zielsetzung; Programmplanung; Programme evaluation; Programmevaluation; Rural environment; Development; Ländliches Milieu; Entwicklung; Ländliche Erwachsenenbildung; Schweden
Abstract	The traditional method of conducting evaluation studies of agricultural extension programs is not sufficient when evaluating the impact on rural development, and must, therefore, be complemented by qualitative studies and careful evaluations of program objectives based on farmer needs. Traditional experimental evaluation studies do not register what happens between the before-and-after measurements nor show how changes actually occur, and therefore, do not indicate how a program might be improved or how it might work in a different setting. To overcome these deficiencies, more qualitative and process-oriented evaluation studies should be used to measure change in one or more characteristics, thereby enabling the assessment of past program quality and the betterment of future program quality. The assessment of program quality must include a careful evaluation of program objectives based on normative needs (as perceived by the sponsoring institution), felt needs (as expressed by the program recipient), and derived needs (as based on expressed attitudes and aspirations of the program recipient). An empirical study of Swedish dairy farmers' needs for agricultural extension programs illustrates application of the foregoing concepts. While it is difficult to determine which needs should be given priority, this study indicates that farmers differ in their derived needs for agricultural extension programs and that they perceive the usefulness of information differently. (AN)
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC