The Extension/Research Link: Current Issues and Future Directions for Home Economics

The link between extension and research has been a hallmark of home economics programs at land-grant universities. The uniqueness of extension programs, compared to other agencies and organizations that provide educational programs for families, is that extension programs are research based. This article examines several of the factors that impede the full realization of the ideal of the land-grant university model. Recommendations for revitalizing the extension/research link in home economics are proposed. The article is intended to provide research and extension faculty and administrators at the land-grant universities with ideas for strengthening the interface between extension and research so that the ultimate goal of more effective service to constituents, in particular, families, can be achieved.