Date of Graduation

7-2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science in Agricultural & Extension Education (MS)

Degree Level

Graduate

Department

Agricultural Education, Communications and Technology

Advisor/Mentor

Graham, Donna L.

Committee Member

Rucker, K. Jill

Second Committee Member

McCullough, Stacey

Keywords

Social sciences; Education; Arkansas; Ballot issue; Ballot issue education; Cooperative extension service; Voter; Voting

Abstract

The University of Arkansas Division Of Agriculture’s Public Policy Center has educated Arkansas voters about statewide ballot issues for 10 years. The ballot issue education program, was evaluated during the 2014 election cycle to determine the program’s impact on voters. This descriptive study sought to describe program participants, to determine knowledge transfer of county agents, to describe knowledge acquisition of program participants, and to measure whether people who attended Cooperative Extension Service presentations made informed choices on Election Day. Researchers found that program participants were mostly older, educated, White women. There were increases in knowledge among participants who read fact sheets or attended a presentation. Ninety percent of the people who attended a presentation were confident in their choices on Election Day. The ballot education program was effective in increasing knowledge and assisting the participants in making informed choices.

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