Validation of CIPP Model in Evaluating the Effectiveness of Supportive Researchers as Perceived by Agricultural Extension Network of Iran

In order to interact with research institutes and centers, as one of the main components of the agricultural extension new system, "supportive researchers" were defined.The main purpose of this survey research was to validate the CIPP model in evaluating the effectiveness of supportive researchers.Statistical population of the study consisted of agricultural extension network (N= 9627),out of whom 566 people were determined as samples using Daniel's sampling formula and simple sampling technique.Data were collected through a questionnaire; validity of the questionnaire was approved by a panel of experts,construct validity and discriminant validity.Reliability of the questionnaire was approved by calculating the Cronbach's alpha and composite reliability.The collected data were analyzed by SPSS22 and Smart PLS3 software. Results of prioritizing indicated that, in the context dimension, “completeness of duties and responsibilities of supportive researchers”; in the input dimension, “technical ability of supportive researchers”; in the process dimension, “providing technical recommendations to the extension agents and farmers”; and finally, in the product dimension, “applicability of the recommendations to target users” were in the highest ranks. Also, results of prioritizing effectiveness evaluation dimensions of supportive researchers indicated that "context" was in the highest rank and "process" was in the lowest rank.Besides the confirmation of indicators’ homogeneity and reliability, the results of confirmatory factor analysis confirmed that the effectiveness evaluation model of supportive researchers had four components (i.e. context, input, process and product).Considering the comprehensiveness of the CIPP model, therefore, it is recommended to use this model in evaluating the effectiveness of supportive researchers.