A scale to measure the role performance of subject matter specialists of Krishi Vigyan Kendras

Krishi Vigyan Kendras (KVKs) sponsored and funded by ICAR have range and capacity needed to find solutions to existing and emerging challenges posed to agriculture development. No scale is present to measure the role performance of the subject matter specialists (SMSs) of Krishi Vigyan Kendras. The Likert technique of scale construction was found to be most suitable for the construction of this scale. In the present study role of SMSs was divided into 11 major segments viz organization of trainings, on-farm trials, frontline demonstrations, programme planning and execution, subject matter authority, communication and feedback, evaluation, management, services and supplies, office work and reporting and supporting activities. A total of 110 items were finalized for the pretesting of the scale. For pre-testing the role items were administered to the 40 respondents who had worked as SMSs at KVKs sometime in past. All possible role items were measured on five point continuum in terms of must do, should do, may or may not do, should not do and must not do and assigning them score of 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 respectively. After applying the ‘t’ test 96 items whose ‘t’ value was more than 1.75 were retained for final scale. This scale was tested for reliability and a reliability coefficient of 0.891was achieved. Content validity of the scale was established. The scale developed on role performance would make clear the different roles performed by SMSs and in this way a better role performance of the SMSs in KVKs could be achieved.