Analysis of Perceived Importance of Extension Research Topics by Extension Researchers in the Agricultural Extension and Rural Development Research Institute

Abstract

The main objective of this research was to analyze the importance of the extension research topics among the extension researchers at the Agricultural Extension and Rural Development Research Institute AERDRI. This objective was achieved through following sub-objectives: (1) Identifying some of the personal and professional characteristics of the researchers of AERDRI. (2) Analyzing the research plans of the (AERDRI) during the period (2012-2017) and classifying them according to the research topics of the (AERDRI). (3) Determining the current and expected importance degrees of the research topics of the research plans of the AERDRI based on the viewpoint of the respondents. (4) Identifying the respondents' opinions related to the extent to which the extension research topics were in line with the research requirements of the 2030 strategy for sustainable agricultural development. This research was conducted on the members of the research body of the three extension research departments of the AERDRI, who hold the degree of researcher and above: Extension Methods and Audio/Visual Aids Research Department, Extension Programs Research Department, and Extension Organization and Training Research Department. This study was conducted on a systematic random sample of 65 respondents representing 52% of the total researchers working in the selected departments. The research data were collected by a pretested interview questionnaire during the period from July to August 2018.The spss.v.25 was used to analyze the data and the following statistical methods were used: Frequency tables, percentages, arithmetic mean, standard deviation, range, and t-test. The most important results were as follows: First: The personal and professional characteristics of the respondents: results showed that most respondents 70.76% are over 51 years of age. The percent age of Respondents of rural origins 47.70% was closer to those of urban residents 52.30%. About half of the respondents 49.24% work in the extension programs department. The research results indicated that 69.23% of the respondents have reached 18 years or more of their research experience. The number of published papers was high among 80% of the respondents. More than three quarters of the respondents 75.38% have a medium and low level of vocational training. The internet, conferences, seminars, workshops, and scientific lectures were the most important sources of agricultural information for the respondents, respectively. 81.54% of the total respondents have a low and medium level of job satisfaction. The research results indicated that some of the rules of behavior ranked high in terms of presence from the viewpoint of the respondents, namely: considering the personal rights of researchers participating in research 98.47%, objectivity in all stages of research 96.92%, and considering research topics needs and problems of local communities 95.38%. The results showed that 69.23% of the total respondents believe that the level of influence of the organizations related to their research work was low or medium. Based on the respondents’ opinions the most important organizations affecting their research work were: Agricultural Research Center, Central Administration for Agricultural Extension, and the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics. Second:Determining the current and expected importance degrees of the research topics of the research plans of the AERDRI: The most important research topics that ranked low according to the current importance were:rural tourism, the possibility of providing paid counseling service, the role of distance education media in extension work, and the level of performance of trainers for presentation and presentation skills. While the most important topics according to the expected importance were: the role of distance education media in extension work, the current and future extension role of cooperative societies, and the extension role of agricultural services institutions. Third: the level of compatibility of the extension research topics with the general objectives of the 2030 Strategy for Sustainable Agricultural Development: The research results showed that about three quarters of the respondents (73.85%) believe that the level of compatibility of the studied research subjects with the general objectives of the 2030 strategy is low or medium