What does this research mean for the field?

Focusing program evaluation on demonstrating return on investment and meeting the decision needs of business organizations improves Extension programs and marketing. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.SYNTHESIS. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to show how program evaluation can effectively demonstrate the value of Extension education to stakeholders.

May 28, 2026

Program Evaluation: Use It to Demonstrate Value to Potential Clients

Key Points

The aim is to show how program evaluation can effectively demonstrate the value of Extension education to stakeholders.
Review of core evaluation articles
Analysis of successful Extension examples
Identification of decision needs of business organizations
Demonstrated potential improvements in program effectiveness through evaluation results
Highlighted the importance of aligning evaluations with client needs for better marketing
Provided evidence of return on investment for clients through program evaluations

Abstract

Program evaluation is a powerful tool for demonstrating the value of Extension education to stakeholders. When presenting the results of evaluation, it is important to know exactly who the stakeholder is. As programs increasingly depend on client registration fees, it becomes essential to demonstrate to clients that they will receive return on their investment. This article points out an opportunity for Extension to improve programs and marketing by focusing evaluation to meet the decision needs of business organizations. Core evaluation articles and reports of successful Extension examples are reviewed.

Mark Helpful

Bookmark

Relay