Abstract

It is quite evident that efficient extension workers play a crucial role in the success of extension programs. This study was conducted in Guilan province, Iran, and the statistical population of which the entire agriculturalist worked at least one year as an agriculturalist in Jihad-Agricultural organization in Guilan. Data collection was done through a questionnaire assessing extensions and Edward personality priority test (EPPS) using Murrey’s (1938) manifest needs questionnaire as the foundation for item making. The top and successful extensions whose assessment scores exceeded the average score of the average population were separated. The results obtained show that the most prominent traits of the extensions working in this province were tolerance, effort, progress, perseverance, and discipline, respectively. All such traits were observable among the successful extensions except the order of which were tolerance, discipline, and perseverance; whereas unsuccessful extensions showed traits like tolerance, discipline, and selfishness (sense of superiority). All three groups had the traits “show off” as their last trait in order according to the questionnaire and their performance. Finally, it can be said that perseverance, discipline, and autonomy were three major traits that distinguished successful extensions from unsuccessful ones.

Key words: Personal characteristics, extension workers, North of Iran.