A comparative study of the public's knowledge and assessment of the purpose and programs of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service in metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan counties

Abstract

Purposes. The purposes of this study were to determine the public's knowledge and assessment of the purpose and programs of the Texas Agricultural Extension Service in both metropolitan and non metropolitan counties, and to determine if differences in the knowledge and assessment of the public exist between populations in metropolitan versus nonmetropolitan counties. Methodology. The population for this study was all individuals in Texas, 18 years of age and over, with access to a household telephone during August through October, 1993. The sample was stratified, by residence area, into metropolitan and nonmetropolitan counties. The sample was selected using a random two-step directory sampling technique. Data were collected by the telephone survey method, and the findings are based on 385 completed surveys from each of the two residence areas. Major conclusions. The nonmetropolitan group knew more about TAEX, gave TAEX higher assessment ratings, was older, had lower incomes, contained fewer college graduates but more high school graduates, had more involvement in agricultural occupations, contained more females and Whites, and had a higher percentage of widowed and married individuals than did the metropolitan group. A general lack of public awareness existed concerning TAEX, and this lack of awareness is a primary reason more of the public does not utilize TAEX services. Respondents who were aware of TAEX gave TAEX programs and services a slightly positive rating in relation to the assessment variables satisfaction, value, effectiveness, performance, and importance of program areas. Personal characteristics of residence area, living or having lived on a farm, ownership of farm or ranch property, home ownership, occupation, marital status, age, children, education, gender, ethnicity, and income were found to have significant relationships with the respondents' knowledge, awareness, and assessment of TAEX. White, older individuals with higher levels of education, higher incomes, living or having lived on a farm, owning farm or ranch property, and owning their homes were generally more knowledgeable about TAEX and gave TAEX higher assessment ratings.