View article

Evaluating cooperative Extension programs is a process which includes gathering evidence about program impacts. One part of this process is the determination of how much data is necessary to show whether or not a program had the intended outcome. For example, if a program on the adoption of a new technology by farmers is being evaluated, should each and every farmer be asked if he or she adopted the technology or should a sample of farmers be asked the question?

Using a sample can provide evidence for use in the program evaluation. A sample can also save valuable time, money, and the labor of Extension professionals. Time is saved because fewer people, farmers, 4-Hers, etc. must be interviewed or surveyed; thus the complete set of data can be collected quickly. Money and labor are saved because less data must be collected. In addition, errors from handling the data (eg entering data into a computer file) are likely to be reduced because there are fewer opportunities to make mistakes.