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Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons™
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Articles 1 - 7 of 7
Full-Text Articles in Social and Behavioral Sciences
Situational Complexity And The Perception Of Credible Evidence, Scott Chazdon, Samantha Grant
Situational Complexity And The Perception Of Credible Evidence, Scott Chazdon, Samantha Grant
Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
Situational complexity is the distinction between simple, technically complicated, socially complicated, and complex situations. Programs that operate in simple situations are usually able to follow a prescribed course of action, or recipe, while programs operating in more complicated or complex situations must be flexible and responsive. In this article, the authors present findings from an exploratory, multiple-case study of the credibility of evidence in four distinct program situations ranging from simple to complex. Key informant interviews were conducted with 16 key informants, both internal and external to Extension. The findings were generally that the more complex the situation, the more …
Measurement And Credible Evidence In Extension Evaluations, Marc T. Braverman
Measurement And Credible Evidence In Extension Evaluations, Marc T. Braverman
Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
This article examines the concept of credible evidence in Extension evaluations with specific attention to the measures and measurement strategies used to collect and create data. Credibility depends on multiple factors, including data quality and methodological rigor, characteristics of the stakeholder audience, stakeholder beliefs about the information source, and the evaluation context. Measurement planning involves a process of making thoughtful decisions about choosing study variables, measurement strategies, and specific measures that adequately reflect the content and goals of the program being evaluated. The use of specific measures may also entail implicit assumptions, e.g., that the respondent is being truthful and …
Editors’ Introduction To This Special Issue, Rich Poling, Donna J. Peterson
Editors’ Introduction To This Special Issue, Rich Poling, Donna J. Peterson
Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
This issue of the Journal of Human Sciences and Extension focuses on both of these questions and provides readers with in-depth exposure to the meaning of credible and actionable evidence of program effectiveness and quality and how it can be addressed within an organization. The ten articles in this issue cover the basics of what credible and actionable evidence is; how such evidence can be identified, measured, and collected; how credible and actionable evidence can differ depending on different levels of an organization and the stakeholders wanting the evidence; how organizations can build capacity to collect credible and actionable evidence; …
How Evaluation Capacity Building Grows Credible And Actionable Evidence For Cooperative Extension Programs, Chelsea Hetherington, Cheryl Eschbach, Courtney Cuthbertson
How Evaluation Capacity Building Grows Credible And Actionable Evidence For Cooperative Extension Programs, Chelsea Hetherington, Cheryl Eschbach, Courtney Cuthbertson
Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
Evaluation capacity building (ECB) is an essential element for generating credible and actionable evidence on Extension programs. This paper offers a discussion of ECB efforts in Cooperative Extension and how such efforts enable Extension professionals to collect and use credible and actionable evidence on the quality and impacts of programs. Sufficient investments in ECB, both at the individual and organizational levels, can better equip Extension to advocate for and make changes to programs, advance as a learning organization, and have a more powerful impact on communities. Furthermore, as Extension program stakeholders often have varying perspectives on the credibility of evidence, …
Credible And Actionable Evidence In Extension Practice: Framing Issues, Contexts, And Principles, Benjamin Silliman, Scott R. Cummings
Credible And Actionable Evidence In Extension Practice: Framing Issues, Contexts, And Principles, Benjamin Silliman, Scott R. Cummings
Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
Organizations that translate emerging science and provide community outreach, such as the Cooperative Extension Service and similar outreach engagement programs at universities, face ongoing challenges in establishing the credibility of program content and results as the pace of discovery of new knowledge, demand for effective applications, and diversity of audiences and other stakeholders continues to expand. This special edition of the Journal of Human Sciences and Extension (JHSE) explores the theme, “What is credible and actionable evidence in Extension programs?” Like a good evaluation, we begin this introductory article by framing the question, including academic, policy, and practical contexts; definitions …
Whose Extension Counts? A Plurality Of Extensions And Their Implications For Credible Evidence Debates, Thomas Archibald
Whose Extension Counts? A Plurality Of Extensions And Their Implications For Credible Evidence Debates, Thomas Archibald
Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
The debate over what counts as credible evidence often occurs on a methodological level (i.e., about what technical applications of systematic inquiry provide believable, justifiable claims about a program). Less often, it occurs on an epistemological level (i.e., about what ways of knowing are appropriate for making claims about a program). Even less often, the debate touches on ontological concerns (i.e., about what conceptualizations of reality, in general or in relation to a specific program, are in play when we wish to make claims about that program). For example, whether we understand Extension to be a vehicle for the dissemination …
Where Do We Go From Here?: Credible And Actionable Evidence In Extension, Scott R. Cummings, Benjamin Silliman
Where Do We Go From Here?: Credible And Actionable Evidence In Extension, Scott R. Cummings, Benjamin Silliman
Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
The evolution of evaluation in the Cooperative Extension System (Extension) has gone through many changes over the years, from focusing on participation, to the measurement of outcomes, and then impacts. Now, the new evolution in Extension is the use of credible and actionable evidence. This special edition of the Journal of Human Sciences and Extension (JHSE) explored the theme, “What is credible and actionable evidence in Extension programs?” The authors of the articles in this issue wrote about the important concepts ahead of us as we begin on the road to more credible and actionable evidence. This article provides some …