Development of Multi-dimensional Scale to Measure Attitude of Farmers Towards Conservation Agricultural Practices

Abstract

Attitude exhibits a pivotal role in influencing one’s behaviour towards any psychological object. The present study aimed at developing and validating a multi-dimensional attitude scale on Conservation Agricultural practices based on Maheshwari–Kumar–Jhamtani– Bhaskaran–Dandapani (M-K-J-B-D) method. The steps included item collection, item selection, item analysis, conducting Principal Component Analysis to extract the underlying dimensions and finally calculation of attitude scores. A total of 75 attitudinal items were pooled initially covering various aspects of Conservation Agriculture (CA) and were subjected to item relevancy checking and item analysis. The final scale contained 25 attitudinal statements under eight sub-dimensions. The reliability of the scale was measured by using Cronbach’s Alpha and the reliability coefficient was found to be 0.80 which was satisfactory. The validity was assessed using content validity method by dispensing the finalized scale to 10 subject related experts. This standardized scale can be used by other academicians of related fields with or without modifications to measure attitude of farmers towards different aspects of Conservation Agriculture.

Development and Validation of Farmer’s Attitude Scale towards Anand Agricultural University

“…To create a reliable and valid attitude scale, the Scale Product Method was applied (Chauhan et al, 2016). A systematic procedure was followed for the scale construction as followed by Kumar et al, (2016); Gupta et al, (2022); Vijayan et al, (2022); Sherin et al, (2023). The steps followed to develop the scale were standard steps ranging from item selection, judges ratings, determination of scale and quartile value, reliability and validity testing and finally catagorisation/ weight assigning.…”

A Standardized Scale to Measure Attitude of Agricultural Scientists towards ICT

“…In total a collection of 70 items were prepared initially which were organized and structured in form of an attitude items. The items were screened by following the fourteen (14) informal criteria suggested by Edwards (1969) [15] for editing and restructuring the statements at all stages of statement development. Based on the screening, 40 items which formed the universe of content were selected.…”

“…The total score which is calculated by adding up the scores for each item, places the respondent on a continuum from least favorable to most favorable. Attitude scale developed from Likert's scale construction technique comprised of a set of statements or items that scale an individual's level of agreement, favorability or other similar perception" [14]. Therefore, present study is focused on standardizing a scale to report the processes used to develop and validate a scale that focuses on the features of the ICT to be used by the agricultural scientist of the Punjab Agricultural University.…”