Attitudes of Purdue extension field-based professionals and County Extension Board Members towards the internationalization of extension
Abstract
Communities and counties in Indiana are continuing to become more diverse. An influx of immigrants over the past years is very evident in some locations. They come for good employment or because they have been displaced from their homelands. In any case, they soon become a part of the fabric of each community in which they settle. Extension has a role in Indiana to provide information and education to the citizens of Indiana through the local county Extension Offices. As communities change there are needs that may be addressed by the Extension Educators in their county. This study was designed to determine if there were attitudes that Educators might have towards providing programming for “newcomers” to their counties. A second portion of the study was to determine the attitudes of County Board Members that provide an advisory role for the Extension Educators in directing their programs. Would the County Board Members have similar attitudes to the Extension Educators? The study surveyed the entire population of county-based Extension Educators in Indiana (N=265). Data were also collected from the entire population of County Board Members (N=1,317). The availability of high-speed internet access made possible the use of an electronic survey conducted through Zoomerang © for the Extension Educators. County Board Members were given the option of utilizing the electronic survey or they could opt for a paper instrument. The survey consisted of 37 questions to assess attitudes and beliefs about the internationalization of Extension in their communities. All responses were kept confidential and results were reported in aggregate form. Extension Educators tended to view internationalization more positively than did County Board Members. The attitudes of the Extension Educators were more positive based on the means for the five scales of Benefit, Knowledge Needed, Local Attitude, Staff Impact, and Local Assistance. However, there were some differences in the attitudes of Extension Educators and County Board Members that were associated with the Extension program area (ECD, CFS, ANR, and Youth) with which they reported the greatest degree of responsibility or association.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Talbert, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Adult education|Agricultural education
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