This module is the fourth in an inservice education series for extension professionals that consists of seven independent training modules. It focuses on how to determine the need for the extension educator's involvement in issues and how to understand the economic, social, political, and environmental contexts in planning, designing, and implementing programs. The 12-hour module is designed to provide extension staff members with an appreciation of the role that situational analysis plays in programming and decision making, as well as with the skills to identify, collect, analyze, and use relevant data in the extension education effort. The module consists of four major parts. The sourcebook includes a concise, readable synopsis of the content, a selected annotated bibliography (48 items), and a list of 19 references. The leader's guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to conduct the workshop and suggestions for use of the other parts. Preliminary and follow-up activities are described, as well as those to take place during the workshop. The learner's packet includes materials to be used during the workshop. The last section lists instructional aids--posters, videotapes, a fictional county newspaper, a comic book--and provides masters for producing overhead transparencies. (YLB)