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

The purposes of this study were: to identify indicators of an effective unit program in Virginia and to test the indicators identified to ascertain their usefulness as an extension program evaluation instrument. Fifty (50) extension agents participated in this study which used a modified Delphi research technique. Three (3) probes were sent to the agents and a field trial was conducted in fifty-four (54) extension units (nine (9) units for each extension district) by the district chairpersons. Probe I requested study participants to submit one-liners which were indicators of an effective unit program. These statements were categorized and synthesized into thirty-eight indicators for probe II. The second probe asked the participants to indicate the extent of agreement or disagreement with the items, thus ranking the indicators according to importance to program quality. Probe III utilized the results of previous probes and ascertained the strength of each indicator. / M.S.

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 (M.S.)--University of Wisconsin, 1959. / Extension Repository Collection. Typescript (carbon copy). Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 176-178).

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, 1959. / Extension Repository Collection. Typescript (carbon copy). eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [175]-177).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin, 1963. / Extension Repository Collection. Typescript (carbon copy). Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 170-174).