UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ATOOTE 
DEPARTMENT BULLETIN No. 1384 
^kH^\, 
Washington, D. C. 
February, 
THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EXTENSION IN REACHING RURAL PEOPLE 
A Study of 3,954 Farms in Iowa, New York, Colorado, and California, 1923-24 
By M. C. Wilson, In Charge, Extension Studies, Office of Cooperative Extension 
Work i 
CONTENTS 
Page 
Foreword 1 
Purpose and scope of study 1 
Areas included in study — 3 
Economic conditions in areas at time of studies. 4 
General information relating to farms studied- 5 
Contact with extension workers and partici- 
pation in extension activities 5 
F arms and h omes reach ed by ext ensi on G 
Extension methods which influenced farms to 
change practices 9 
Extension methods which influenced the adop- 
tion of individual practices.. 10 
Page 
Other factors affecting the adoption of prac- 
tices 12 
Condition of land occupancy 12 
Size of farm... 13 
Distance from county extension office 13 
Nature of roads 14 
Membership in extension associations 14 
Participation in extension activities 15 
Contact with extension agents 16 
Membership, participation, and contact... 17 
Boys' and girls' club work.. 17 
Subject-matter specialists 18 
Attitude toward extension 19 
Summars' 19 
FOREWORD 
With a background of 10 years of cooperative extension work 
under the Smith-Lever Act, extension administrators and super- 
visors everywhere are seeking definite information upon which to 
base decisions affecting the future conduct of the work. Facts rather 
than opinions are needed. The field study reported in this bulletin 
was made by the Office of Cooperative Extension Work, in coopera- 
tion with the State extension services of Iowa. New York, Colorado, 
and California. Considerable light is thrown upon concrete prob- 
lems concerning which extension leaders have long desired reliable 
information. The determination, in any adequate degree, of the 
results of extension teaching is a most complex matter.- Only some 
of the more obvious results are here shown. It is hoped the present 
study may be the basis for more comprehensive studies in the future. 
PURPOSE AND SCOPE OF STUDY 
Is cooperative extension work in agriculture and home economics 
really reaching large numbers of rural people I 
What better methods of farming and home making have been ac- 
cepted by farmers and farm women as a result of extension teaching? 
1 For helping to plan the study and for making it possible to collect such a large number of farm and home 
records, the author is indebted to C B. Smith, chief. Office of Cooperative Bliss, 
director of extension service, Iowa; M. C, Burritt, former director of extension service, and D. J. Crosby, 
professor in charge of extension research, Now York; Roud McCaun, director of extension service. Colo- 
rado; and B. H. Crocheron, director of extension service, California. The writer also gratefully acknowl- 
edges the valuable assistance ren tal ives oi I tie Office of Cooperative Extension Work 
-and of the State extension service in Iowa, New York, Colorado, and California, in obtaining field data. 
67897— 2Gf 1 
