Responsiveness Results

Questionnaire items regarding responsiveness were worded in terms of program areas, not departments, so the questionnaire does not provide a "report card" on department-level progress toward responsiveness. It does provide a gauge of responsiveness for Extension, by program area and overall. These questionnaire items address various dimensions of Extension’s "customer driven" capacity: My program area listens attentively to the people and communities it serves (item 5a).

5a. My program area listens attentively to the people and communities it serves.
5b. My program area makes good use of the guidance it receives from program participants to shape its programs.
5c. My program area makes good use of the guidance it receives from the general public to shape its programs.
5d. When the public’s input indicates the need for new research, my program area is able to influence the research agenda.
5j. My program area has the ability to address the specific needs of clients.

The following interactive graphic shows OSUES-wide average responses to each of these questions. (Click the question boxes in the column to the right to reveal and hide the response arrows.) Averages for the mid-2001 timeframe are indicated by the orange arrows. Average changes between 1995 and 2001 are indicated by the vertical arrows, which are colored green for significant differences and gray for non-significant differences. (Data table)

As the vertical arrows in the chart show, the average change (1995-2001) for each of the five items is positive but relatively small. It is significant only for 5d (Able to influence the research agenda per public's input). The current (mid-2001) rating of the items is varied: the top three items (5a, 5b, and 5j) rank fourth, fifth, and eighth among the 29 NOW means; the two other items (5c and 5d) rank 19th and 21st.

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Responsiveness Results