Oklahoma Cooperative Extension educators’ perspectives on academic research collaborations: A qualitative case study of the happy healthy homes program implementation
Abstract
Collaboration between Extension educators/agents and academic researchers is essential to the mission of a land-grant university. This paper seeks to better understand the perspectives of Oklahoma Cooperative Extension educators’ perspectives on the barriers and facilitators when working with researchers. A qualitative investigation was conducted using structured one-on-one interviews with six Extension educators who implemented the Happy Healthy Homes family child care home environmental health intervention in rural areas. Results provided evidence that Family and Consumer Sciences Extension educators believed the topics of childhood nutrition and environmental home safety were relevant to FCS programming. To implement the program, group lessons with concise content with the capability of reaching multiple target audiences are better aligned with educators’ needs. Researchers should also be cognizant of educators have expertise in delivering programming and knowledge of the population. Study results are expected to inform researchers seeking to design programming and collaborate with Extension educators in rural communities.
Collections
- OSU Theses [15752]