Making social science research applicable: The case of agricultural extension research in Egypt
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1002/pad.4230140403 |
| Date | 02 November 2006 |
| Published date | 02 November 2006 |
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND DEVELOPMENT, VOL. 14,365-375 (1994)
Making social science research applicable: the case
of
agricultural extension research in Egypt
B.
W.
HONADLE
University
of
Minnesota
SUMMARY
One problem in the management
of
agricultural research is the integration of research and
extension. The links between research and extension are tenuous for many reasons, including
institutional and administrative factors that thwart collaboration; geographic isolation of
extension staff; differences in status, prestige and educational attainment between extension
workers and researchers; and motivational issues impeding stronger ties between extension
and research personnel. This article argues that the problem with much research intended
for extension audiences is that it is supply driven and not demand driven. Using a social
science research unit within the Agricultural Research Center of the Egyptian Ministry of
Agriculture as a case study, this article analyses the research produced by the unit and assesses
its potential usefulness for extension. It then attempts to show why it does not reach this
potential. Among the reasons are that the researchers lack experience and background in
rural issues and agricultural extension; research results lag behind extension’s need for the
information; and there is
no
plan to disseminate the results to the extension community after
research is completed. The article offers some suggestions for overcoming such barriers, includ-
ing involving extension in the design of research projects and holding seminars on research
results after projects are completed; changing the incentives for researchers to do more applied
research; and diversifying the methods and disciplines used to conduct the research.
A special issue of this journal recently dealt with a wide range of problems in managing
agricultural research (Horton, 1993). One of the specific problems identified in that
special issue is the integration of research and technology transfer (Horton and
Elliott, 1993, p. 191). Three articles in that issue (Collion and Kissi, 1993; De Souza
Silva and Flores, 1993; and Eponou, 1993) focused on this particular problem.
Much has also been written elsewhere about the tenuous links between research
and extension. There are many complex reasons for these weak links. Some notable
explanations offered for this phenomenon have to do with institutional and adminis-
trative factors that thwart collaboration between extension professionals and
researchers; geographic isolation of extension staff; differences in status, prestige
and educational attainment between extension workers and researchers; and motiva-
tional issues impeding stronger ties between extension and research personnel.’
This dilemma may be summed up
as
follows:
The perception is that researchers often are out of touch with farmers’
problems, that research programs tend to be designed in isolation of such
Professor Beth Walter Honadle
is
at the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, University
of
Minnesota, 217E Classroom Office Building, 1994
Buford
Avenue,
St.
Paul,
MN
55108, USA.
’
See,
for
example, Leonard (1977).
CCC 027 1-2075/’94/040365-11
0
1994
by John Wiley
&
Sons, Ltd.
To continue reading
Request your trial