Trends of the Agricultural Extension Research in Korea: A Ten Year Analysis

한국농촌지도의 연구동향

The objectives of this study were to examine subject matter topics researched in agricultural extension over a ten year period, to analyze the research methods in detail, and to get some implications for the academic progress of agricultural extension. The data were collected from 197 journal articles published in the Korean Journal of Agricultural Extension from 1994 through 2003. Among them, research topics and methods were analyzed specifically on 123 articles categorized as agricultural extension. Data were summarized using frequencies and percentages. The conclusions acquired from this study were as follows. First of all, the research on agricultural extension had been increased since the 1970s, and it still has not decreased till now. Secondly, the research also has indicated the direction of development from a broad point of view by analyzing the reality at a general level. Therefore, much remains to be done for investigating the reality more scientifically and establishing the theories on the agricultural extension by explaining the reality with many theories from other studies. Thirdly, the study on the agricultural extension mostly has been led by the professors and the agricultural extension workers. Fourth, the study has been focused on macro sides such as extension philosophy, extension systems, extension structure, extension organization and so on. Fifth, the research also has been carried out on the agricultural extension workers and farmers. Finally, most of the research methods were library survey and survey research.