Methods and Evaluation of Extension Programme - 2 | Agriculture Optional Notes for UPSC PDF Download

Evaluate programme planning

Due to accumulated knowledge from experience, theory, research, and experimentation, there is now a substantial body of information on how to effectively plan an extension program. With advancements in science and technology, as well as the widening range of extension clients with diverse needs and interests, the scientific planning of extension education programs has become more crucial than ever. Several well-accepted criteria have emerged, which, when adhered to, contribute to the successful planning of extension programs at various levels. These criteria serve as the standards against which we can assess our practices and procedures for program planning.
To evaluate the effectiveness of the programming process in light of these criteria, it is necessary to take the following steps:

• Determine the necessary information to make judgments about each criterion.
• Define the methods that will be employed to collect this information, such as personal observations, interviews, or systematic surveys.
• Based on the gathered evidence, assess whether each criterion is adequately met in the program planning activities.

Extension evaluation process

Numerous evaluation models are present in the literature, but for the evaluation of extension programs, a simplified version of these models can often be quite effective. As highlighted by Bhatnagar (1987), any evaluation process in extension relies on certain assumptions. For instance, if a program provides specific inputs, it should yield particular outputs. When these anticipated outputs materialize, the program's intended purpose can be fulfilled. Consequently, the overall development objective is realized. This indicates that the evaluation process must be structured to systematically assess the quality, types, and sufficiency of input measures, outputs, and their impact on achieving the program's objectives.

Steps involved in an extension programme evaluative process may be as follows:

• Establish evaluation objectives: Clearly and comprehensively define the specific objectives that the evaluation process aims to achieve. All subsequent actions should revolve around these objectives.
• Categorize program objectives: Assume that each extension program, upon formulation and implementation, will have well-defined objectives. As evaluation primarily entails gauging the organization and management of various extension teaching activities and their contributions to goal attainment, program objectives must be well-understood. If necessary, these objectives should be further subdivided into measurable terms. This step is vital since all ensuing efforts will concentrate on gathering evidence related to these objectives.
• Identify indicators: To pinpoint indicators or the type of evidence required for evaluating accomplishments concerning specified program objectives, it's essential to identify the specific beneficiaries of the program. Clearly articulate the anticipated behavioral changes in these beneficiaries, outline the expected learning experiences provided to them, and specify the management level required for delivering these learning experiences. With these details in place, identifying specific indicators to measure achievements becomes straightforward.
• Determine the required information: After delineating indicators for evaluating program management and performance, the specific information to be collected can be outlined. Given that there's usually more information than an extension worker can gather, it's crucial to be discerning about the type and amount of information to collect. The timing for information collection may also need to be defined.
• Implement sampling: Sampling aims to select a relatively small number of units from a population in a manner that makes the evidence collected from them representative of the entire population. While various sampling methods exist, stratified sampling procedures might be the most suitable for extension evaluation studies as they ensure the inclusion of all relevant groups and provide sufficient heterogeneity in the sample.
• Decide on the evaluation design: Ideally, an experimental design for evaluation would be optimal, allowing the separation of the program's impact from other factors through the use of control and treatment groups. Numerous experimental designs are available, including one-group pre-test-post-test design, static groups comparison, pre-test, post-test control group design, Solomon four-group design, longitudinal study design, and more. However, in actual practice, extension programs are rarely implemented in a manner conducive to experimental evaluation designs. Experimental designs might be feasible in pilot projects, but for the most part, survey methods are employed. These methods can be used for assessing ongoing progress or conducting an ex-post facto evaluation after the program has concluded.
• Collect and analyze evaluation evidence: Multiple methods are available for collecting information for evaluative purposes, such as mail questionnaires, personal interviews, distributed questionnaires, group interviews, case studies, systematic field observations, and the systematic study of secondary data. The selection of the appropriate data collection method hinges on the evaluation objectives, the required information, available time and resources, and the characteristics of the respondents. Regardless of the method chosen, it is crucial to develop a specific questionnaire, interview schedule, or data recording sheet carefully. After data collection, it must be meticulously tabulated, summarized, and analyzed. This step should not be hurried, but computer assistance can expedite the analysis process.
• Interpret the results appropriately: This step is of paramount importance, as misinterpretation of evaluation results can lead to incorrect conclusions. Once tentative generalizations are reached, they should be informally discussed among the interpreters and with program planning and implementation officials to ensure that the evaluation results are properly contextualized. The results should clearly delineate achievements, shortcomings, and necessary future adjustments. A written report of the evaluation findings should be prepared and shared with all relevant parties.