Over the years, we in Extension have developed certain words and phrases to describe our work. Among those descriptive phrases is “research-based education.” Other terms include unbiased, non-formal, practical, and responsive. But according to findings of a recent national survey of Extension administrators, some of these phrases might be due for a refreshing.

When asked whether Extension’s method for accomplishing its work was education, engagement, or both interesting results emerged. Not a single individual said that our method was solely education. Twenty percent said that our method was engagement while eighty percent said that our work is a mix of education and engagement. This latter perspective suggests Extension sometimes serves in a convener role working in partnership with community members to co-create solutions to local problems. In this role we enter into a partnership with the community based on reciprocity and mutual benefit where we both learn from each other.

The same group was also asked to indicate whether they prefer to use “research-based” or “science-based” when describing the derivation of the content we communicate. Fifty-seven percent preferred “science-based” while less than one-third preferred “research-based.” A move toward using the phrase “science-based” may also be supported by studies that have shown a more positive public perception of the word “science” than the word “research.” Interestingly, the word science is derived from the Latin word for “knowledge.” Contrasting with that are definitions of research that characterize it as a process of acquiring knowledge.

Finally comes the word “unbiased.” Some would say that higher education is inherently biased toward empirical ways of knowing truth and tends to disregard pragmatism, intuition, authority, revelation, and rationalism.

What are your thoughts about how we communicate what we do?