Extension Education and Communication Reviewer for Licensure Exam for Agriculturists

1. Which of the following BEST describes the primary purpose of agricultural extension services as stated in LEA-related syllabi and PYQs?

• a) To enforce agricultural regulations among farmers
• b) To facilitate voluntary change in farmer knowledge, attitudes and practices through education and support
• c) To provide long-term credit and guarantee farm loans
• d) To replace local knowledge with only research-based technologies

2. Which of the following is an example of a mass extension method?

• a) Farm visit
• b) Small group demonstration plot
• c) Individual advisory (one-to-one)
• d) Radio broadcast and televised farm program

3. In the diffusion of innovations model commonly used in extension, which adopter category is characterized by a willingness to take risks and by being the first to try new ideas?

• a) Innovators
• b) Laggards
• c) Late majority
• d) Early majority

4. Which principle of extension emphasizes that extension activities should be relevant to clients’ needs and priorities?

• a) Centralization
• b) Mandatory participation
• c) Relevance
• d) Financial dependence

5. Which extension approach is MOST associated with participatory planning, farmer empowerment and joint problem-solving?

• a) Participatory Rural Appraisal / Participatory Extension
• b) Transfer-of-technology (top-down) approach
• c) Missionary approach
• d) Voucher-based commercialization

6. During extension program planning, which of the following documents is typically prepared to state objectives, target clients, activities, resources and indicators for monitoring?

• a) Technical research brief
• b) Memorandum of agreement only
• c) Client satisfaction survey only
• d) Extension program/project proposal (workplan) with M&E indicators

7. Which of these is considered a major barrier to effective communication in extension?

• a) High client interest and comprehension
• b) Use of locally appropriate language and examples
• c) Cultural differences and technical jargon
• d) Frequent farmer-to-farmer exchanges

8. In monitoring and evaluation (M&E) of extension programs, which indicator is an example of an output rather than an outcome?

• a) Percentage increase in farm income among participants after one year
• b) Number of training sessions conducted and number of farmers trained
• c) Change in farmers’ adoption rate of recommended practice
• d) Improvement in household food security

9. Which role is typically expected of an extension worker in community organization?

• a) Facilitate group formation, strengthen local leadership and mobilize community resources
• b) Serve only as a rule-enforcer for external agencies
• c) Replace local institutions with external management
• d) Provide unlimited subsidies to all community members

10. Which of the following BEST defines ‘adoption’ in the context of agricultural innovations?

• a) The decision to make full and sustained use of an innovation as the normal practice
• b) Hearing about an innovation without trying it
• c) A one-time trial without sustained use
• d) Government mandate to discontinue traditional methods only

11. In the diffusion of innovations theory, which communication channel is most effective during the persuasion stage of adoption?

• a) Scientific journal publications
• b) Mass media campaigns
• c) Interpersonal communication through peers or local leaders
• d) Government memorandums

12. The “Training and Visit” (T&V) system of extension originally implemented by the World Bank in Asia was characterized by:

• a) Farmers training extension workers every week
• b) Regular biweekly visits by trained extension workers following a fixed schedule and hierarchy
• c) Unplanned farmer group meetings conducted by local traders
• d) Exclusive delivery of inputs without education

13. Which communication model best explains two-way communication between extension agents and farmers, allowing for feedback and mutual understanding?

• a) Linear model (Shannon-Weaver)
• b) Berlo’s SMCR model
• c) Osgood-Schramm interactive model
• d) Lasswell’s formula

14. In the context of adult learning theories, which principle aligns MOST with agricultural extension practices?

• a) Adults learn effectively when content is problem-centered and immediately applicable
• b) Adults learn best through rote memorization
• c) Adults resist self-directed learning
• d) Adults prefer to be passive recipients of information

15. The *Barangay Integrated Development Approach for Nutrition Improvement (BIDANI)* is an example of which type of extension approach?

• a) Community-based and integrated rural development approach
• b) Commodity-focused approach
• c) Research-extension linkage model
• d) Farmer field school approach

16. Which of the following extension program planning steps is directly concerned with identifying gaps between the current situation and the desired condition?

• a) Problem identification and situational analysis
• b) Implementation
• c) Evaluation
• d) Goal setting

17. According to Rogers’ innovation-decision process, which stage immediately precedes the “confirmation” stage?

• a) Knowledge
• b) Implementation
• c) Persuasion
• d) Decision

18. The ratio between the number of extension workers and farmers served is often used to measure:

• a) Communication effectiveness
• b) Extension coverage or service efficiency
• c) Program sustainability
• d) Technology complexity

19. In extension communication, “redundancy” in a message helps to:

• a) Add unnecessary information that confuses the listener
• b) Increase message clarity and reduce noise interference
• c) Replace feedback with repetition
• d) Focus only on written communication

20. Which of the following is a key feature of the Farmer Field School (FFS) approach compared to traditional lecture-type extension?

• a) Emphasizes discovery-based, experiential learning through field observation and group analysis
• b) Focuses mainly on expert lectures and classroom teaching
• c) Uses only mass media to disseminate information
• d) Limits farmer participation to passive attendance

21. Which among the following is NOT a core principle of participatory extension approaches?

• a) Empowerment of local people through collective decision-making
• b) Top-down dissemination of predetermined technologies
• c) Facilitation of dialogue between farmers and extension agents
• d) Utilization of local knowledge in planning

22. In the Philippine Agricultural Extension System, which government agency serves as the national apex body for coordinating and strengthening local extension services under the AFMA of 1997?

• a) Department of Agrarian Reform (DAR)
• b) Agricultural Training Institute (ATI)
• c) Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI)
• d) Philippine Council for Agriculture and Fisheries (PCAF)

23. According to Rogers, which innovation characteristic most influences the speed of adoption among farmers?

• a) Compatibility with existing practices
• b) Complexity of the innovation
• c) Number of mass media promotions
• d) Legal mandates supporting adoption

24. Which among the following statements correctly distinguishes “evaluation” from “monitoring” in extension program management?

• a) Monitoring focuses on short-term activities while evaluation focuses on results and impacts
• b) Evaluation is continuous while monitoring is periodic
• c) Both measure only financial efficiency
• d) Monitoring uses external evaluators only

25. In the context of communication models, the “two-step flow of communication” emphasizes the role of:

• a) Policy makers as message gatekeepers
• b) Opinion leaders who mediate information between mass media and farmers
• c) Noise reduction through technology
• d) Farmers as passive recipients of messages

26. The principle of “learning by doing” in extension education is primarily attributed to which learning theory?

• a) Cognitive learning theory
• b) Experiential learning theory (Kolb)
• c) Behaviorist theory
• d) Psychoanalytic learning theory

27. The concept of “linkage” in the Research–Extension–Farmer continuum primarily aims to:

• a) Separate research and extension responsibilities strictly
• b) Ensure effective feedback of farmers’ problems to researchers and technology flow to users
• c) Replace local knowledge systems with external findings
• d) Prioritize export-oriented production programs only

28. Which type of evaluation is conducted while an extension program is ongoing to provide feedback for improvement?

• a) Summative evaluation
• b) Diagnostic evaluation
• c) Formative evaluation
• d) Impact evaluation

29. According to the Agricultural Training Institute’s extension framework, which of the following is NOT considered a major function of the Agricultural Extension System?

• a) Technology promotion and dissemination
• b) Human resource development
• c) Policy formulation and enforcement
• d) Capability building for local extension workers

30. The principle that “extension should start where the people are” primarily emphasizes:

• a) Identifying farmers’ existing knowledge, skills, and felt needs before planning programs
• b) Implementing national programs without local consultation
• c) Prioritizing urban extension projects
• d) Ignoring farmers’ indigenous practices

31. Which of the following best explains “Homophily” in communication within an extension setting?

• a) The tendency of individuals to communicate more effectively with those who share similar backgrounds and beliefs
• b) The process of changing communication channels frequently
• c) The difference in knowledge between the source and receiver
• d) The ability to decode messages faster than others

32. The primary objective of formative evaluation in extension program planning is to:

• a) Assess outcomes after program completion
• b) Improve program design and implementation during its development
• c) Measure long-term impacts of the program
• d) Compare two extension programs for efficiency

33. The concept of “Critical mass” in diffusion of innovations refers to:

• a) The early adopters who act as opinion leaders in a social system
• b) The minimum number of adopters required before the adoption rate becomes self-sustaining
• c) The innovators who test new technology first
• d) The majority who adopt innovations at later stages

34. According to Paulo Freire’s participatory extension approach, the primary role of an extension worker is to:

• a) Impose expert knowledge to change farmers’ behavior
• b) Facilitate critical thinking and problem-solving among farmers
• c) Collect data and report adoption rates
• d) Provide mass media communication on innovations

35. Which of the following evaluation types focuses on assessing the efficiency of resource utilization in extension programs?

• a) Process evaluation
• b) Cost-benefit evaluation
• c) Outcome evaluation
• d) Summative evaluation

36. The “Two-step flow” model of communication highlights the importance of:

• a) Opinion leaders who mediate between mass media and the general public
• b) Direct communication from mass media to all individuals
• c) Horizontal communication among farmers only
• d) Government agencies disseminating information directly

37. A “systems approach” in agricultural extension emphasizes:

• a) Isolated activities of different agencies
• b) Interrelated components working together towards development goals
• c) Top-down flow of information from research institutions
• d) Elimination of feedback in communication

38. The “innovation-decision” process in diffusion theory begins with which stage?

• a) Persuasion
• b) Knowledge
• c) Decision
• d) Confirmation

39. Which communication barrier occurs when extension agents use too much technical jargon unfamiliar to farmers?

• a) Semantic barrier
• b) Environmental barrier
• c) Psychological barrier
• d) Organizational barrier

40. In program planning, the “situational analysis” step primarily aims to:

• a) Develop new technologies for farmers
• b) Identify existing problems, needs, and available resources
• c) Evaluate the success of completed programs
• d) Implement field trials and demonstrations

41. The process of empowering farmers to identify their own needs and make decisions in solving their agricultural problems exemplifies which extension approach?

• a) Participatory extension approach
• b) Conventional top-down approach
• c) Technology push model
• d) Training and Visit (T&V) system

42. In communication models, feedback serves primarily to:

• a) Encode the message for the receiver
• b) Eliminate redundancy in communication
• c) Verify whether the message was understood as intended
• d) Increase message distortion

43. The “linkage” function of an extension system is best described as:

• a) Coordination between extension, research, and education sectors
• b) Transfer of funds between institutions
• c) Developing new technologies within extension offices
• d) Recruitment of extension staff

44. Which of the following best describes the “Demonstration method” in extension teaching?

• a) A mass media campaign for promoting a new product
• b) A practical display of an innovation to show its advantages
• c) Distribution of pamphlets and flyers
• d) A theoretical classroom session on farming systems

45. The concept of “pluralism in extension” refers to:

• a) Extension services being delivered solely by the government
• b) The involvement of multiple actors such as NGOs, private sector, and government in extension delivery
• c) Farmers forming cooperatives for credit
• d) Exclusive training of extension personnel

46. In the hierarchy of evaluation, which of the following assesses whether the extension program has met its long-term developmental goals?

• a) Process evaluation
• b) Impact evaluation
• c) Diagnostic evaluation
• d) Formative evaluation

47. According to Rogers, which of the following adopter categories has the highest degree of opinion leadership in a social system?

• a) Innovators
• b) Early adopters
• c) Early majority
• d) Late majority

48. The “Rogers and Shoemaker Model of Communication” differs from linear models primarily because it:

• a) Excludes feedback from the process
• b) Emphasizes mutual understanding and interaction between communicator and receiver
• c) Focuses only on the media channel
• d) Deals only with noise in communication

49. Which of the following is an essential principle of adult learning relevant to agricultural extension?

• a) Adults prefer passive listening during instruction
• b) Adults learn best when the topic is related to their real-life experiences
• c) Adults learn faster through memorization
• d) Adults dislike participating in group discussions

50. In participatory rural appraisal (PRA), which of the following tools is used to identify seasonal variations in agricultural activities?

• a) Venn diagram
• b) Seasonal calendar
• c) Resource map
• d) Transect walk