Some of the devices used for measuring the “progress” towards the achievement of educational objectives in extension programmes include:
Value Scales: are used to determine the value and worth people place on things and to show what people think is important e.g. religious value, economic value, scientific value etc.
Attitude scales: show how people feel towards things. These may be in favour or against the feelings of people in certain aspects such as child marriage, family planning etc.
Opinion Polls: are held to know the opinions of people on certain issues. It may be simple ’yes’ or ‘no’ form or free answer questions e.g. surveys to know the voting behaviour of people in election.
Knowledge and Comprehension Tests: are used for finding out whether a person understands or can apply certain acquired knowledge in a given situation e.g. knowledge about preservation methods, nutrition garden, cultivation of paddy etc.
Interest checks: are used to find out the interests of the people in different activities or progammes e.g. interest in health and sanitation and literacy programme etc.
Skill in performance rating: are used to determine the amount of skill attainment by the people eg. skill in embroidery, stitching, pickle preparation, driving a tractor etc.
Adoption of practices: is for finding out the extent to which the improved practices are being used by the people eg. improved practices in wheat cultivation, milking techniques, cooking practices etc.
Case history technique: is used for studying in detail one unit of the population e.g. case study of a progressive farmer or a mahila mandal.
Through these devices, most of the information is obtained through the questionnaire method. The questions asked should be short, clear and concise and placed in logical order. After collecting data through questionnaire method, it is tabulated and interpreted properly and the report prepared gives a summary of those answers.
Participants