ERIC Number: EJ899177
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2010-Feb
Pages: 6
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1077-5315
EISSN: N/A
What Influences Agents to Pursue a Career in Extension?
Arnold, Shannon; Place, Nick
Journal of Extension, v48 n1 Article 1RIB1 Feb 2010
The qualitative study reported here explored why agricultural agents pursue an Extension career. A purposive sample was used to select twelve Florida agricultural agents. Interviews investigated positive and negative influences that affected agents' employment decisions. Grounded theory was used as the primary data analysis method (Strauss & Corbin, 1998). The selective categories most influential on agents' decisions to enter into Extension were: agent background, career contacts, service to agricultural community, nature of Extension work, position fit, and university-supported education. A grounded theory was developed to explain the findings. Results are useful for Extension to practice proactive agent recruitment. (Contains 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Grounded Theory, Extension Agents, Extension Education, Influences, Career Development, Motivation, Interviews, Decision Making, Agricultural Education, Performance Factors, Occupational Surveys, Work Attitudes, Vocational Interests, Interest Inventories
Extension Journal, Inc. e-mail: joe-ed@joe.org; Web site: http://www.joe.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Adult Education
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Florida
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A