No abstract

The roles and information needs of homemakers, a traditional audience of the Extension Service, have changed in recent decades. However, research has not determined what those needs are and how Extension can best address them. To determine the family and consumer issues important to homemakers and communication channels preferred by them, six focus groups were conducted throughout Kansas. Participants were asked about their most important family and consumer issues, current use of and attitudes toward mass media, and current use of and attitudes toward Extension. Results indicate that homemakers are concerned about having strong families and relationships and developing consumer skills. Most participants were users of mass media but did not consider much of it trustworthy. Extension users think its information is reliable and accurate but saw a need for increased pUblicity of and convenience in accessing Extension. Many participants were unaware of Extension and its services. These results can be used to develop communication methods that will effectively deliver important family and consumer information to homemakers.

Is there a meed for graduate studies in agricultural communication?

This article reports findings from an evaluation study of the USDA Science and Education Impact Fact Sheet Program. The program was established in 1995 to communicate tangible effects of USDAExtension programming to help maintain investment in land-grant and USDA research and educational programs. The single-page Impact Fact Sheets, which address such topics as agriculture and the environment, parenting, and waste management, have been distributed to stakeholders through mail and personal visits and distributed to states for their own use. Impact information is also maintained on the National Impact Database. This paper reports results from both qualitative and quantitative data collection methods among congressional aides in June 2000. Results revealed that the average respondent was a 27-year old male who had served in his current position for one to three years.

Hispanics are the largest minority population in the United States, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, and the fastest growing. If they are immigrants, they are often dealing with cultural issues as well as new technological applications and social systems. The need for education programs and dissemination of food safety information to this growing segment of the population is evident. This study sought to determine the group's knowledge of food safety and its primary channels for receiving such information. A questionnaire was developed and translated into Spanish. Face-to-face data collection facilitated by a trusted community partner proved to be a successful means of collecting data from this audience, who are often difficult to reach and may be unwilling to speak with people associated with government. Specific areas of lack of knowledge emerged. The respondents struggled most with questions about proper handling of leftovers containing meat, accurate water temperature for washing and rinsing dishes, handling frozen foods, and defrosting meat. From the attitude questions, the authors found that the target group felt food safety was important, was more threatened in food service outlets than in the home, and was overemphasized. The channel used most frequently and trusted most was television. AbstractHispanics are the largest minority population in the United States, according to the 2000 U.S. Census, and the fastest growing. If they are immigrants, they are often dealing with cultural issues as well as new technological applications and social systems. The need for education programs and dissemination of food safety information to this growing segment of the population is evident. This study sought to determine the group's knowledge of food safety and its primary channels for receiving such information. A questionnaire was developed and translated into Spanish. Face-to-face data collection facilitated by a trusted community partner proved to be a successful means of collecting data from this audience, who are often difficult to reach and may be unwilling to speak with people associated with government. Specific areas of lack of knowledge emerged. The respondents struggled most with questions about proper handling of leftovers containing meat, accurate water temperature for washing and rinsing dishes, handling frozen foods, and defrosting meat. From the attitude questions, the authors found that the target group felt food safety was important, was more threatened in food service outlets than in the home, and was overemphasized. The channel used most frequently and trusted most was television.