M.S.

This study was prompted by a lack of information concerning influentials in certain Virginia counties, and the limited involvement of these individuals in Cooperative Extension programs. The reputational method was employed in identifying the influentials in a selected rural agricultural county in Virginia with 10,000 inhabitants. Additional information was collected with a pre-tested interview schedule. The following objectives constituted the framework for the study: 1. Identify the influentials and determine and describe their salient characteristics. 2. Determine the interrelationships and informal structure. 3. Determine the factors to which influence was attributed. 4. Ascertain the extension agents ability to identify the influentials. 5. Derive implications from findings pertinent to Cooperative Extension work. The 23 persons identified as being the most influential were all males who were between 32 and 81 years of age, and all except two were county natives. Occupationally the group was predominated by full-time farmers and retail merchants. The 12 persons attributed county-wide influence were older, had more associations with each other and had held a larger number of formal positions than the local community influentials. All were interrelated through organizations and business contacts and appeared to comprise a unitary structure similar to a "power pool." Each influential in the pool possessed several interrelated factors which contributed to his power. Past achievements was perceived to be one of the most important factors. Results of the study indicate the need for an organized identification program for extension agents and the recognition of the power structure as an important resource in conducting Extension programs. / Master of Science

This thesis was designed to assess the effectiveness of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service's Information Project in reaching an urban audience, as could be determined by analyzing results from a planned informational program involving chemical pesticide information. Data for the analyses were extracted from a primary study, "The Effect of a Planned Communications Program on Change of Attitude and Knowledge of the Urban Dweller Toward Chemicals and Pesticides," Budget Bureau No. 40-6673, financed by a grant from the Federal Extension Service, United States Department of Agriculture. The sample considered was comprised of 597 residents of Richmond, Virginia who were interviewed following conduct of the planned informational program, which used television, radio, newspapers, and a publication. Knowledge and attitude scores of people exposed to the program were tested against 12 variables for significant differences. Statistical methods included frequency distribution, percentage, and t test for significance. Analyses indicated that 140 individuals in the sample (23.45%)had been contacted by mass media. Television had the most contacts; 85 people (14.24%) saw information contained in the planned program. Radio contacted 11 people (1.84%); the newspaper contacted five people (.84%); the publication contacted 16 individuals (2.68%). Of the 48 score comparisons, five showed a significant difference at the 5% level of probability. These were explained as occurring in a chance, non-related pattern. The conclusion was that the planned communications program was ineffective in increasing knowledge and promoting favorable attitudes toward chemical pesticides in the urban audience for which it was designed. / Master of Science

Sometimes we lose sight of the significance of that which has gone before us in building a great organization in the name of "The Cooperative Agricultural Extension Service." Knowing a few of the highlights of this early development may help us feel more a part of this tremendous teaching movement. The Morrill Act means to us the establishment of our ultimate headquarters for state extension work. As a result of this legislation in 1862, every state in the Union would be able to establish a land-grant college. Justin Morrill's objectives were as follows: "Let us have such colleges as may rightfully claim the authority of teachers to announce facts and fix laws and scatter broadcast that knowledge which will prove useful in building up a great nation." The name Seaman A. Knapp should stand out in our minds as the father of the demonstration method. In the fall of 1903 near Terrell, Texas, the first farm result demonstration was set up by Dr. Knapp. Recent studies indicate that this method is still one of the most effective procedures used by extension workers. Farm demonstration work was started in Virginia in February, 1907, under the leadership of T.O. Sandy of Burkeville, the father of extension work in Virginia. In 1914, the Smith-Lever Act formally set forth "The Cooperative Agricultural Extension Service." In the signing of this act the policy of federal assistance to land-grant colleges for teaching, research and extension in agriculture and home economics became the national policy. / Master of Science

In recent years there has been a growing literature that advocates various forms of participatory development. This is illustrated by the promotion of approaches/tools such as participatory rural appraisal (PRA), participatory technology development (PTD), and participatory process projects 1 These "new" approaches are fast taking on the form of a new generalised orthodoxy for solving development problems. It would seem from the perspective of some of the promoters of this orthodoxy that the problem of development is no longer one of not having the right approaches and methods, but one of getting recalcitrant policy makers, bureaucrats, academics to appreciate and adopt these new methods and techniques. My concerns with this new advocacy are that: i It does not relate to experience; ii It does not address issues of power structure and control over information and other resources in multiple and complex arenas of science and technology (S&T); iii By placing major emphasis on management approaches and tools, the new orthodoxy is cutting itself off from a critical reflective understanding of the deeper determinants of technical and social change. Unfortunately, I suspect that if this new orthodoxy does not develop a more critical reflective view of itself then, like previous dominant orthodoxies, it will soon have to develop a range of "escape hatches" to explain why these participatory approaches are not giving the results that their advocates promise. / AVOCADO series; v 06/95

Thesis (doctoral)--Universität, Hohenheim, 2005. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 114-124).

Thesis (PhD) -- University of Western Sydney, Nepean, 1999. / "A thesis submitted in fulfillment of the requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy" Bibliography : leaves 218-224.

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin, 1965. / Extension Repository Collection. Typescript (carbon copy). Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 115-117).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin, 1961. / Extension Repository Collection. Typescript (carbon copy). Includes autobiographical sketch of the author. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 177-180).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1968. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references.