Executive summary
University of Missouri Extension
Public Opinion Survey
Center for Advanced Social Research
School of Journalism
University of Missouri RTF
Complete report RTF
September 2005
A telephone survey of 1,005 interviews was conducted with Missourian residents
by the Center for Advanced Social Research (CASR) of Missouri's School of
Journalism in April and June 2005 on behalf of University of Missouri Extension. The purpose was to examine public opinions about University of Missouri Extension
and its services and programs.
Questions of the survey included:
- Awareness with University of Missouri
Extension and its services
- Participation in the programs
- Interest in
programs and services provided by University of Missouri Extension
- Perceptions
of University of Missouri Extension and its services and programs
- Demographics.
According to the survey,
- 57 percent of the 1,005 respondents were aware of University of Missouri
Extension.
- More than one-third (36 percent) of the people surveyed had heard of
the Extension offices in their areas
- 52 percent of them knew where the local
offices were located.
- Awareness of University of Missouri Extension was found
more in
- Adults aged 65 or older (74 percent)
- Those between 35 and 64 (63 percent)
- Residents who had lived at their present addresses for five years or longer
- People in rural areas and medium towns
- Those with education of high school
diploma or higher
- Adults who had access to the Internet.
- Of those who
were aware of University of Missouri Extension,
- 11 percent had participated in
the Extension's 4-H youth development program
- 11 percent in agriculture and natural
resources program
- 11 percent in continuing education program
- 7 percent in nutrition,
health, parenting or family finance program
- 5 percent in business and workforce
development program.
- 85 percent of the participants gave an above-average rating
in usefulness of the programs and services in which they took part.
- Residents
were interested in a variety of programs and services offered by University
of Missouri Extension, including
- Well being of children and teens
in Missouri (average score = 4.76, 7 = very interested)
- Family health (4.67)
- Continuing
education or professional development programs (4.59)
- Environmental
quality (4.34), nutrition (4.33)
- Personal finance (4.26)
- Programs
for youth at risk (4.24)
- Food safety (4.19).
- Of those who
were aware of University of Missouri Extension,
- 79 percent either somewhat
or strongly agreed that "University of Missouri Extension
is an expert resource for local communities throughout Missouri"
- 76
percent thought "it is important to have an Extension center in every
county in Missouri"
- 67 percent disagreed that "University of
Missouri Extension only serves the needs of rural communities."
- 94 percent of the survey participants
expected University of Missouri Extension "to
have up-to-date information,"
- 84 percent "to have science-based knowledge"
- 77 percent
either somewhat or strongly agreed that "University of Missouri Extension
makes higher education more accessible to Missouri residents"
- 84 percent thought "Overall,
University of Missouri Extension is a valuable resource"
- 85 percent agreed
that "University of Missouri Extension is a credible and objective resource
for local communities throughout Missouri"
- On a 7-point scale where "7" is "very positive"
- 29 percent
gave University of Missouri a rating of "7"
- 25 percent "6"
- 23 percent "5"
- Positive rating was found in more women (89 percent, compared to
83 percent of men)
- People with "some college studies" (93 percent).
- 52 percent of
the respondents thought University of Missouri had an impact in their communities.
This opinion was shared by
- Adults aged between 35 and 64 (62 percent)
- Those 65 or older (69 percent)
- More women (68 percent versus 53 percent of men)
- Families without
children under 18 (63 percent)
- Retirees (68 percent).
- 56 percent of the people surveyed usually
rely on newspapers as their primary source of information about what happens
in their communities
- 21 percent use television
- 6 percent listen to the radio.
- Three-fourth
(76 percent) of the residents had access to the Internet.
- 17 percent of them had used
the Internet to access University of Missouri Extension's online resources.
- 50.2 percent of the 1,005 respondents were men, and the rest were women.
- The
average age of the sample was 48.1 years of age
- 86 percent of the respondents were
Caucasian
- 7 percent African American
- 2.8 percent American Indian
- 8 percent of the sample
lived on a farm
- 14 percent in a rural area
- 19 percent in a small town (with a population
of fewer than 10,000)
- 13 percent in a medium town (population between 10,000 and
39,999)
- 27 percent in a suburb (population between 40,000 and 149,999)
- 19 percent
in a urban area (population of 150,000 or more).
For more information about the survey, please contact Kenneth Fleming, director
of CASR, at (573) 882-3396 or e-mail at flemingk@missouri.edu.
Updated 11/30/07
