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A Scale to Measure Farmers' Attitude Towards Integrated Plant Nutrient Management

M.A. Muttaleb
Senior Scientific Officer
Bangladesh Rice Research Institute, Regional Station

M.A. Kashem
Professor
Dept. of Agricultural Extensition Education, Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh

M.A. Islam
Senior Scientific Officer
Bangladesh Institute of Nuclear Agriculture, Mymensingh

Abstract/ Executive Summary:

The study was designed to construct a standardized scale to measure the attitude of farmers towards integrated plant nutrient management (IPNM) through integration of Thurston's technique of equal appearing interval and Likert's technique of summated ratings scale. Data were collected during July to November, 2003. A total of 26 items of integrated plant nutrient management were selected through extensive' review of literature and discussion with extension experts, the items were edited in the light of 14 criteria of Edwards and subjected to judge's ratings by the subject matter specialists on a three point continuum. Considering relevancy analysis, scale value and Q value obtained by judge ratting of subject matter specialists, 21 items were selected. Afterwards, 16 items were selected based on scale and Q value with seven point continuum from further judge rating by extension experts. Finally, twelve items were selected for the scale based on the results of item analysis. Significant reliability coefficients of the finalized attitude scale towards IPNM were 0.983 and 0.944 for split half and test retest method, respectively which indicated high stability of the attitude scale to measure farmers attitude towards IPNM.

Keywords: Scale, Farmers' attitude, IPNM

Location: BAU, Mymensingh

Start Date: 00-07-2003

End Date: 00-11-2003

Program Area: Knowledge Management

Commodity: Fertilizer

Objectives:

To construct a standardized scale to measure attitude of the farmers towards IPNM.

Methodology:

Adequate statistical analysis is an indispensable step during development, evaluation and revision phases of a model. The assessment of the adequacy of models is only possible through the combination of several statistical analyses and proper investigation regarding the purposes for which the mathematical model was initially conceptualized and developed for (Tedeschi, 2006). Hence, both of Thurstone's technique of equal appearing interval and Likert's technique of summated rating scales were considered to develop scale for measuring attitude of farmers towards IPNM. Scale was developed through collection of items, editing of items, relevancy analysis and calculation of scale values, Q values and item analysis. Data collection and judges rating were accomplished during July to November, 2003. Twenty-six attitude statements on IPNM were collected initially 'after extensive review of literature and consultation with extension experts. These items were examined and edited as per 14 informal criteria set up by Edwards (1957:13-14). These 26. statements along with three-point continuum against each of the items were sent to 35 selected' subject matter specialists (judges) who had the background of soil science and agronomy working in different agricultural research organization of Bangladesh along with proper instructions for their judgement. Among them, responses of 27 judges were as per instructions and were used for calculation of relevancy analysis, scale value and Q value for items selection of attitude scale. Responses of judges were scored 3, 2 and 1 for most suitable, suitable and least suitable respectively. Further judges ratings were done through extension experts with 21 selected items and were sent to 35 selected judges for further refinement along with a 7- point continuum ranging from most suitable to least suitable against each of the items. Among 35 selected extension experts, responses of 21 judges were considered for calculation of scale values and Q- values due to their timely response as per requested instructions. Detailed procedure of relevancy analysis, scale value calculation, Q value calculation and item analyses have been described in the following sections. Relevancy analysis consists of relevancy percentage (RP), relative weightage (RW) and mean relevancy score (MRS) and were calculated by the formula of Bheemappa et ai., 2002 and Saravanan et ai., 2004. Besides, analysis on Relative weightage (RW); Mean relevancy score (MRS); Calculation of scale value; Calculation of inter quartile range (Q) and Item analysis were done.

Source of Information: Bangladesh Journal of Extension Education; Volume 19, No. 1 &2, 2007: 11-18; ISSN 1011-3916

Article Link (Online Journal):

Funding Source:

Total Budget (Tk.) :

Achievement/Findings:

Farmers' attitude towards improved practices is one of the determinants of adoption of improved practices. Hence, this developed and standardized scale to measure farmers' attitude towards IPNM can be used by the future researchers in conducting attitude studies and constructing scales on improved farm technologies related to IPNM.

Knowledge Management: Journal