A cross-sectional assessment of extension specialists’ evaluation training needs

Odunayo Omotilewa; Omolola A. Adedokun; Jacqueline Corum

doi:10.37433/aad.v7i3.731

Authors

Odunayo Omotilewa University of Kentucky, USA https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4516-7804
Omolola A. Adedokun University of Kentucky, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0705-2976
Jacqueline Corum University of Kentucky, USA

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v7i3.731

Keywords:

cooperative extension, evaluation capacity building effort, SDG 4: Quality Education, well-being, needs assessment

Abstract

Extension specialists play a crucial role in designing, implementing, and assessing evidence-based Extension programs and outreach to address community needs, yet their evaluation training needs remain underexamined. This study reports the findings of a needs assessment conducted to identify priority evaluation training needs of Extension specialists at the University of Kentucky (UK) to inform targeted capacity-building efforts. Using a cross-sectional survey, UK Extension specialists rated their training needs across 25 evaluation topics. Findings revealed seven priority training needs including determining the economic value of programs using return-on-investment or cost-benefit analyses; developing measurable long-term outcomes to assess program impact; conducting follow-up surveys; developing evaluation plans to address what, why, when, and how to evaluate program outcomes/impact; developing effective quantitative tools; analyzing quantitative program evaluation data; and using data visualization to communicate evaluation findings. Further analysis showed that 21 of the 25 evaluation topics clustered into four core areas: quantitative evaluation methods, evaluation outcomes, program planning and reporting, and qualitative evaluation methods. In addition, the results indicated that training needs varied by program area and years of employment. These findings highlight the importance of using data-driven approaches to identify Extension specialists’ priority evaluation training needs and to inform tailored capacity-building efforts.

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References

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