| Scope and Method of Study. The purpose of this study was to determine and analyze perceptions of Oklahoma county Extension agricultural agents concerning their levels of competence and educational needs in selected technical agricultural topics, and the implications of these perceptions for future in-service training programs. Questionnaires were mailed to 74 county Extension agricultural agents in August, 1981, to gather data for the research effort. All 74 agents (100%) participated in the study. The questionnaire contained a list of 66 specific subject matter topics which were identified by a panel as being those topics for which agents should possess a degree of knowledge and skill. The 66 topics were categorized under the eight general subject matter areas of Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Engineering, Agronomy, Animal Science, Entomology, Forestry and Wildlife, Horticulture, and Plant Pathology. For each of the 66 specific topics agents were asked their perceptions concerning their levels of competence, their frequency of use of these competencies, and their priority for additional training. The responses were analyzed using frequency counts, percentages, and means.;Findings and Conclusions. In general, respondents indicated their overall level of competence, frequency of use, and priority for additional training to be highest for the general areas of Horticulture, Entomology, Animal Science, and Agronomy. Responses of county agricultural agents, when categorized by supervisory district, did not vary a great deal. Younger, less experienced agents did perceive their levels of competence slightly less, but their needs for training slightly greater than did the more experienced agents. Specific subject matter topics used most frequently were those for which agents perceived the most need for additional training. At the time of this study, agents perceived their greatest needs for additional training to be in: weed and brush control, home vegetable gardening, horticultural crop diseases, care and maintenance of fruit trees, I.D. and control of horticultural insects, I.D. and control of field crop insects, and pasture management and forage production. Overall, the investigation concluded that county Extension agricultural agents consider themselves to possess adequate levels of competence to be effective in their present assignments. However, they recognize the need for additional in-service training to remain competent and up-to date in the specific technical subject matter topics used most frequently in their county assignment. |
