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Exploration of urban extension county offices: identifying patterns of success using a modified delphi and case study

Kerrigan, Warren Jack, Jr.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1123858682

Abstract Details

2005, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Agricultural Education.
The Cooperative Extension Service was established in 1914 when the United States of America was a predominantly agrarian society. America’s population according to the 2000 U.S. Census data is 79 percent urban. Extension’s urban county offices provided educational programs to address the needs and issues of contemporary urban life. The practices of urban county offices are becoming increasingly important to the future of the Cooperative Extension Service system. The purpose of this study was to identify current practices and project the patterns of success in urban Extension for the next two to five years (2007 – 2010) A case study and a Modified Delphi technique, descriptive research designs, were used for this exploratory study. The case study site was purposefully selected based on its reputation as an exemplary urban office. The staff of this office was interviewed about office operations and programming, programs were observed, and marketing materials and educational documents were analyzed to provide input into the statements used in the Modified Delphi survey instrument. The case study provided a baseline of current practice. A purposeful sample of Extension professionals and experts across the United States was selected to serve as the panel of experts in three rounds of the Modified Delphi. The study was conducted utilizing a web-based survey instrument, which allowed prompt responses to statements and rapid analysis of the data. The case study participants were interviewed in a focus group for reactions to the statements used in the Modified Delphi, providing the practitioners’ perspective in reaction to the Delphi panel’s recommendations. The study identified 80 patterns of success for urban county Extension programs. Items identified achieved both a consensus rating of 80 percent agreement within two adjacent response categories on the six-point Likert-type scale in the Modified Delphi and the agreement of the case study participants. The result is a series of recommendations referred to as patterns of success. These patterns of success were identified for Internal Operations (staffing and funding), External Operations (accountability, marketing, and partnerships/external relationships), and Programming (target population, program planning, adult and youth programming, teaching and outreach methods, and program evaluation).
Jo Jones (Advisor)
599 p.
Urban Extension Service; Cooperative Extension Service; Urban Cooperative Extension Service; 4-H Youth Development

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Kerrigan, Jr., W. J. (2005). Exploration of urban extension county offices: identifying patterns of success using a modified delphi and case study [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1123858682

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Kerrigan, Jr., Warren. Exploration of urban extension county offices: identifying patterns of success using a modified delphi and case study. 2005. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1123858682.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Kerrigan, Jr., Warren. "Exploration of urban extension county offices: identifying patterns of success using a modified delphi and case study." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2005. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1123858682

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1123858682
2,101
© 2005, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.