Agent’s View of Extension’s Role

Key Points

• This research aims to explore how county agents' definitions of Cooperative Extension vary based on educational and situational factors.
• Surveyed 334 male county agents in North Carolina with questions on Extension's role definition.
• Analyzed relationships between definitions and variables like college major and social science coursework hours.
• Considered agents' reactions to hypothetical study grants and plans for advanced studies as influencing factors.
• Agents with broader definitions of Extension were more likely to have majored in social sciences.
• Higher hours of social science coursework correlated with a less narrow definition of Extension's role.
• Interest in advanced study and positive reaction to grant scenarios influenced perceptions of Extension.