1. An Assessment of Clientele Preferences for Receiving Extension Information.
- Author
-
Richardson, John G.
- Abstract
A research project was conducted to determine the methods of information delivery preferred by targeted clientele of extension offices in North Carolina, and what methods clients might prefer in the future. Eleven North Carolina Cooperative Extension agents representing all areas of the state cooperated in the study. The agents developed educational programs with objectives from the four major subject areas of agriculture, home economics, youth (4-H) organizations, and community development. They randomly selected a sample of 77 clients from their potential audience of 994 people. The 77 clients were interviewed using a questionnaire developed for the project. Interviewees mostly had agricultural interests; they included community leaders, environmentalists, urban home owners, school teachers, day care providers, and production agriculture workers. The study found that, even though great diversity existed in the interests of the targeted audiences, their preferences of delivery methods were remarkably similar. Personal visits, meetings, newsletters, demonstrations, and workshops were preferred methods. Computer instruction, faxes, and videotapes were expected to become more important in the future, although these methods were the most unfamiliar to the clients. Regardless of the delivery methods, clients strongly preferred information that was customized for them. (KC)
- Published
- 1995