AGNET: Increasing its Effectiveness

AGNET, a computer network designed for use by Extension agents, farmers, and other Extension clientele, was introduced into the North Dakota Extension Service in 1977. AGNET is used for problem solving, information sharing, and communications.The problem-solving function can help answer management questions. Information sharing keeps agents updated on livestockand crop conditions, trends, and predictions. An electronic mail system serves the communication function by speeding up the distribution of messages among agents and support staff.

Since introduction of AGNET, use among Extension agents has gradually increased. However, the amount of AGNET use varies greatly among county offices. What are the reasons for this large variation in the use of AGNET by North Dakota Extensionagents? What can be done to further increase their use of AGNET?

The Survey

Answers to these questions were sought through a survey of North Dakota Extension agents. A questionnaire was sent to the63 North Dakota agricultural Extension agents and assistant agents to determine characteristics associated with high, medium, or low users. It was designed to gather information about previous AGNET or other computer training in college, the amount of encouragement by influence groups (for example, farmers) to use AGNET, and agent demographics. Written comments were encouraged and added to the information obtained, particularly in the area of improving AGNET training. Sixty questionnaires (95%) were returned.

According to Rogers, county agents yo through the same innovation-decision process as others.¹ Rogers and Shoemaker have classified adopter categories as: (1) innovators,(2) early adopters, (3) early majority, (4) late majority,and (5) laggards. They suggest adopter category labels are about as numerous as are diffusion researchers.² For thisstudy, categories of usage were labeled as low, medium, and high user groups.

Rogers and Shoemaker discuss many characteristics that differ between earlier and later adopters, including age, exposure to information, and opportunity for trial.³ Early triability in this study is defined as previous AGNET training in college, where some agents get early exposure to the system before entering the Extension Service. In these cases, the awareness stage is earlier and therefore affects usage. Persuasion was also examined in this study by looking at the effects particular influence groups have on agents' use of AGNET.

User Groups

Low, medium, and high user groups were determined from the hours logged on AGNET by Extension agents for December, 1982, January, 1983, and February 1983. Table 1 presents the mean number of hours logged on, number of logons, and minutes per logon for each user group.

Table 1.
Mean number of hours,logons, and minutes/logon

User group	Mean number of hours logged on	Mean number of logons	Mean number of min./logon
Low
N=20
1-9 hours	5.150	20.600	15.000
Medium
N=21
10-19 hours	14.050	36.000	23.400
High
N=19
20+ hours	34.200	58.737	35.000
Total mean score	17.467	38.067	28.240

Findings and Discussion

A difference was found among low, medium, and high users in some demographic characteristics. Here are some of the differences found.

AGNET or Other Computer Training

Two variables of previous training were studied: (1) previous AGNET training in college and (2) other computer training in college.

Participation in AGNET or other computer training in college was examined to see if any relationships existed between previous experience and later use of AGNET. The agents with previous training were higher users (see Table 2).

Table 2.
AGNET or other computer training in college by user groups

User group	AGNET training in college		Other computer training in college
	No	Yes	No	Yes
	N=48	N=12	N=43	N=17
Low	37.5%	16.7%	44.2%	5.9%
Medium	33.3	41.7	32.6	41.2
High	29.2	41.6	23.2	52.9
Total	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0

Encouragement by Others

Extension agents were often encouraged by administrators, specialists, and clientele to develop certain programsand tools. Over 70 %of all respondents rated specialists as giving them very high or high encouragement to use AGNET.Considerably less encouragement was felt from other influence groups. Table 3 shows the distribution of encouragement felt by all agents.

Table 3.
Extent of encouragement perceived by agents

Influence Group	Extent of perceived encouragement
	Very high extent	High extent	Uncertain	Low extent	Very low extent	Total	Rank
Administration	8.3%	56.7%	20.0%	5.0%	10.0%	100%	1
Specialist	6.8	53.3	18.3	18.3	3.3	100	2
Farmers	3.3	20.0	23.4	40.0	13.3	100	3.5
Other county agents	0	25.0	28.3	28.3	18.4	100	3.5
Advisory counsils	1.7	16.7	28.2	26.7	26.7	100	5
Other goverment agencies	3.3	10.0	21.7	35.0	30.0	100	6
Schools	3.3	5.0	18.3	43.4	30.0	100	7

There was a difference in the amount of encouragement felt by low, medium, and high users. The more encouragement to use AGNET, the more the agents used the system. Very high or high encouragement from specialists was felt most strongly by medium and high users. Respondents who felt very high or high encouragement by farmers, other government agencies, and schools were all medium or high users.

Age and Years of Service

Of the youngest group (20-29), 80% were medium or high users. Of the group 30-39 years of age, about 70% weremedium or high users. As the age of agents increased, the percentage of low users also increased. A similar relationship was seen in years of service.

Training Improvement

To more fully and efficiently use AGNET, Extension agents gave the following recommendations to improve in-service training sessions:

1. Training sessions should be in-depth and on specific programs rather than general in nature.
2. Training needs to be comprehensive and go beyond the aspect of physically running the programs.
3. More specialists need to become proficient at and involved in AGNET training to teach agents how to apply and interpret the figures obtained from the programs.
4. Agents need to learn how to change the figures inthe programs to tailor them to an individual client's needs.
5. Agents need to be taught how to best work with the clientele once the figures are obtained, to know what the figures mean and to be able to explain them

AGNET Advantages and Disadvantages

AGNET was most frequently used during office calls and for self-information. Agents indicated that AGNET has little value for farm visits and meetings. The greatest advantage of AGNET was its speed in doing problem-solving calculations. It was also seen as a veryuseful communications and educational tool.

The extra time required to incorporate AGNET into the county Extension program was viewed as the major disadvantage of AGNET. It was time-consuming to learn to run and use the programs. The agent's workload has increasec due to the increased number of clients wanting programs run.

Implications

This study shows certain factors influence how agen adopt and to what extent they use educational/informational tools such as AGNET. Demographics, previous training, and demand for use by clientele and other influence groups were shown to be the most influential variables.Demographics of agents can't be changed. However, changes in training and demand from clientele and other influence groups can affect adoption and usage.

Younger agents and agents with fewer years of service tended to be higher users. Because of this, staff turnover may increase the use of AGNET. Also, if using AGNET is viewed as a high priority by administration, previous AGNET or other computer training may be a consideration in selecting future staff members.

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... certain factors influence how agents adopt and to what extent they use educational/informational tools such as AGNET. Demographics, previous training, and demand for use by clientele and other influence groups were shown to be the most influential variables.

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Training is the primary area where administration can affect adoption and usage of a new innovation, In the case of AGNET, high quality training is especially important for agents without previous AGNET or computer training. Training improvement recommendations suggested using an in-depth approach with specific, detailed information and a large amount of hands-on experience during a series of training sessions.

Increased encouragement given by influence groups, especially farmers and other government agencies, will affect usage. Adoption of AGNET throughout the Extension Service and more efficient use of AGNET will make it a powerful educational tool.

Footnotes

1. Everett M. Rogers, Diffusions of Innovations (New York: The Free Press of Glencoe, 1962).
2. Everett M. Rogers and F. Floyd Shoemaker, Communication of Innovations: A Cross-Cultural Approach (New York: The Free Press, 1971).
3. Ibid.