Forecasting Doctoral-Level Content in International Agricultural and Extension Education-2010: Viewpoint of Fifteen Engaged International Scholars

摘要

Given an increasingly interconnected world with an expanding knowledge base, this research engaged 15 international scholars to resolve two research questions: (a) what are the knowledge objects that are essential for the doctoral-level professional working in international agricultural and extension education in 2010, and (b) what are the knowledge domains that coalesce and organize knowledge objects by general principles? Using the Delphi method, scholars engaged in three rounds to identify, rate,and confirm consensus on knowledge objects (KO 's) and knowledge domains (KD 's) for agricultural and extension education-2010. KO's consisted offundamental and powerful concepts, knowledge, paradigms, skills, and/or theories. From a submission of335 KO's, 240 distinct KO's were rated; the number was reduced to 173 KO's as agreed to by the expert panel. Researchers merged the 173 statements into 126 unique KO's and assigned them to one of 12 knowledge domains. Knowledge domains were defined as related KO's organized by general principle. The expert panel reached agreement on the 12 KD categories and the placement of 126 KO's that delineate the field of study.