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Adoption of soil conservation practices in Belgium: An examination of the theory of planned behaviour in the agri-environmental domain
Abstract
Soil erosion is a problem with serious on-site and off-site consequences. There exists a broad series of measures to mitigate soil erosion, unfortunately policy makers observe little voluntary adoption. This paper reports on a study to elicit the factors explaining adoption of soil erosion control practices in Belgium. Following a socio-psychological approach, the theory of planned behaviour (TPB), adoption of cover crops, reduced tillage and buffer strips is evaluated using linear regression techniques. Results show that the most explaining factor is attitude towards the soil conservation practice. The TPB adapted to include perceived control and difficulty appears to provide a suitable framework for evaluating adoption of erosion control measures in Belgium. Future interventions directed at promoting erosion control measures should be directed at changing the attitude of farmers. Further study is, however, required in order to elucidate the cognitive foundations of the negative attitude of a majority of farmers towards the implementation of erosion control practices.
... These elements include attitude towards the behaviour (ATT), subjective norms (SNs), and perceived behavioural control (PBC). ATT relates to a farmer's likelihood of possessing a favourable or unfavourable propensity towards a behaviour, SNs are the extent to which farmers' significant others influence them to adopt a particular innovation, and PBC is associated with the farmers' perceived difficulty or easiness of adopting an innovation [10,12,13]. Putting the three psychological elements together results in a positive or negative intention to adopt an innovation. ...
... The implication of this is that a farmer's positive intention may not always lead to adoption of an innovation due to a perception of insufficient ABC (see Figure 1). significant others influence them to adopt a particular innovation, and PBC is associated with the farmers' perceived difficulty or easiness of adopting an innovation [10,12,13]. Putting the three psychological elements together results in a positive or negative intention to adopt an innovation. ...
... Figure 1. The theory of planned behaviour (Source: Authors' construct adapted from [10,13]). ...
Citation: Villano, R.A.; Koomson, I.; Nengovhela, N.B.; Mudau, L.; Burrow, H.M.; Bhullar, N.
... In this study, farmer's intention to use corn silage is determined by his i) attitude, it indicates the degree to which execution of the behaviour is positively or negatively evaluated, ii) subjective norm refers to a persons' perception of the social pressure upon them to perform or not the behaviour and iii) perceived behavioural control is the perceived own capability to successfully perform the behaviour (Wauters et al., 2010). ...
... In the TPB, direct measures of attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control can be determined by recording the responses of a single question (Martínez-García et al., 2018); however, the indirect measures of those three components result of the behavioural beliefs, normative beliefs and control beliefs (Borges and Oude Lansink, 2015). Thus, indirect attitude is derived from behavioural beliefs (bi*ei), where bi is the belief about the likelihood of outcome ith outcome of the behaviour, and ei is the evaluation of the ith outcome (Wauters et al., 2010). The indirect subjective norm is derived from normative beliefs (nj*mj), where nj is the belief about the normative expectation of the jth important other, and mj is the motivation to comply with the opinion of the jth important other (Wauters et al., 2010). ...
... Thus, indirect attitude is derived from behavioural beliefs (bi*ei), where bi is the belief about the likelihood of outcome ith outcome of the behaviour, and ei is the evaluation of the ith outcome (Wauters et al., 2010). The indirect subjective norm is derived from normative beliefs (nj*mj), where nj is the belief about the normative expectation of the jth important other, and mj is the motivation to comply with the opinion of the jth important other (Wauters et al., 2010). Perceived behavioural control originates from control beliefs (ck*pk), where ck is the belief about the presence of the kth factor that may facilitate or inhibit the performance of the behaviour, and pk is the perceived power of the kth factor to facilitate or inhibit the behaviour (Wauters et al., 2010). ...
p class="Default"> Background. Corn silage has shown a better economic sustainability to the small-scale dairy farms; however, the adoption rates among farmers have been low. Objective . This paper used the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to identify socioeconomic and socio-psychological factors influencing farmers’ intention to use corn silage. The TPB pointed out that individual’s behaviour is conducted by the individual’s intention, which in turn is determined by the individual’s attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control. Methodology. The study was conducted with 106 farmers, divided in users (n=48) and non-users (n=58) of corn silage. To identify differences between groups, the Mann Whitney U test was conducted and Spearman’s correlations were used to analyse the constructs of the TPB. Results . The results showed that users of corn silage had the biggest farm size and their intention was significantly correlated ( P <0.05) with the farm characteristics. The TPB’s results suggest that users and non-users decisions were based on positive beliefs of corn silage. Users generally perceived a greater social pressure and had a greater motivation to comply, however, non-users manifested to be encouraged by farmer’s self-initiative and personnel of the university. Non-users indicated that major constrain to use corn silage was the lack of technical skills and knowledge. Implications . The paper adds evidence for a better understanding of factors driving farmer’s decisions to use corn silage on the farm. Conclusions . The farm characteristics and socio-psychological factors played an important role on farmers decisions to use corn silage on their farms. The findings are of interest for small-scale dairy sector in developing countries.</p
... The higher the degree of special participation of farmers, the better they understand the policy environment of national development. The more accurately they grasp the reform direction of the homestead system, the more farmers broaden their horizons, improve their awareness of the current situation of rural homestead revitalization, understand the necessity and urgency of revitalizing homestead bases, recognize the role of homestead revitalization in increasing property income, improve the living environment, promote rural industrial development, and overcome their resistance in participating in the process of homestead revitalization [36]; this in turn improves their willingness and participation in ecological, environmental governance. Based on this, the third research hypothesis is proposed: Hypothesis 3. Social participation has a positive effect on farmers' willingness to revitalize their homesteads. ...
... understand the necessity and urgency of revitalizing homestead bases, recognize the of homestead revitalization in increasing property income, improve the living env ment, promote rural industrial development, and overcome their resistance in partic ing in the process of homestead revitalization [36]; this in turn improves their willing and participation in ecological, environmental governance. Based on this, the third search hypothesis is proposed: ...
Revitalizing idle rural residential bases is essential for improving the utilization rate of residential resources, activating pastoral land resources assets, increasing farmers’ property income, and stimulating rural development vitality. Social capital is one of the essential social resources owned by farmers, which is closely related to rural social governance and farmers’ daily lives and plays an indispensable role in revitalizing residential land. Based on the theory of social capital and the survey data of 316 farm households in Shaanxi Province in 2022, this study first empirically analyzes the influencing factors of social capital and its constituent dimensions on farm households’ willingness to revitalize their home-steads using a Logit regression model, and then empirically analyzes the hierarchical structure relationship among the influencing factors using an ISM model. The results of the study show that: (1) Social capital and its three constituent dimensions of social network (“Contact with relatives, neighbors, and families” and “Contact with village committee staff”), social trust (“Trust in friends and relatives” and “Trust in village committee and other organizations”), and social participation (“Participation in meetings of village committees and other organizations”) have significant positive effects on farmers’ willingness to revitalize their residential land. (2) There are differences in the effects of different dimensions of social capital on farmers’ willingness to revitalize their homesteads: social trust as a deep-seated cause affects farmers’ social networks and social participation, which in turn affects farmers’ knowledge of homestead revitalization policies and ultimately farmers’ willingness to revitalize their homesteads. Based on the findings of the study, to improve farmers’ willingness to revitalize their homestead bases, government departments should base their efforts on the social capital characteristics of farmers, increase the cultivation of farmers’ social capital, and strengthen the publicity of the work of revitalizing homestead bases and related policies.
... Excessive use of chemical fertilizers and discarded agricultural waste have caused significant threats to the environment (Elahi et al., 2019a, b;Bagheri et al., 2022;Elahi et al., 2019a;Li & Chen, 2020), including soil degradation, water pollution, and other environmental pollution issues (Han & Zhao, 2009;Liu et al., 2013;Sierra et al., 2015;Stuart et al., 2014;Wauters et al., 2010). Studies have confirmed that organic manure application can reduce greenhouse gas emissions (Liu et al., 2015) and improve the ability of soil to carry out carbon sequestration (Hui et al., 2017), which is significant for promoting the sustainable development of agriculture (Ning et al., 2017). ...
... Attitude (AT) reflects people's evaluations of specific behavior. People's attitude can be positive or negative, and a negative attitude can harm behavior Läpple & Kelley, 2013;Savari & Gharechaee, 2020;Wauters et al., 2010). D'Souza found that attitude had a positive statistical significance on participants' behavior (2022). ...
Different from the previous studies on social and economic impacts, this study focused on the assessment of psychological factors on farmers' application of organic manure. We explored the psychological evaluation based on the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB), which consists of attitude (AT), perceived behavior control (PBC), subjective norm, moral norm (MN), environmental risk perception (ERP), and perceived policy effectiveness (PPE). Further, we explored the moderating effects of PPE. We studied 235 tea growers in China to verify the model and analyzed the psychological factors in their decisions regarding organic manure application. The results showed that by incorporating psychological factors, such as MN, ERP, and PPE, the extended TPB’s ability to explain farmers’ intention to apply organic manure increased by 6%. The results also confirmed that psychological factors (ERP, PPE, AT, PBC, and MN) positively influenced farmers’ inclination to use organic manure. Finally, PPE was found to have a negative mediating effect on attitude and intention. Given the influence of these psychological factors (PBC, ERP, and PPE), we discovered that increasing the policy publicity, raising the policy subsidy, and promoting the popularization of sustainable agriculture and environmental awareness, are essential to encourage farmers' utilization of organic manure.
... Therefore, knowing the way of people thinking, how they perceive about rangelands, their tendency toward different measures in the conservation of rangeland resources, and solving problems and crises related to that, it would be necessary (Katuwal, 2012) that the first step in this direction comes about understanding their current behaviors (Yazdanpanah et al., 2014). In this regard, as a suitable tool for understanding individuals' behavior, environmental psychology and theories in this field of science have a special place in research sources (literature) (Wauters et al., 2010;Bamberg, 2013;Onwezen et al., 2013). ...
... Subjective norms (SN) is defined as a person's understanding of "what others care about?" (White et al., 2009) and "understanding social pressure to the perpetration or not perpetration of a behavior" (Ajzen, 1991). Probably, if individuals understand the importance of the confirmation of that behavior by others, then they would certainly show more commitment to do that (Ajzen, 1991;Wauters et al., 2010). There has been a lot of empirical support in various studies for the predictive effects of PBC and SN variables on the PN variable (Bamberg and Möser, 2007;Klöckner, 2013;Yazdanpanah et al., 2014;Pradhananga et al., 2017). ...
Conflicts over rangeland exploitation have been a serious challenge in Iran, rooted in human behavior. Accordingly, this study aimed to provide a comprehensive theoretical framework in the field of analyzing conflict behavior among rangeland exploiters. This research is a descriptive-correlational and causal-relational study conducted using a cross-sectional survey. The statistical population of the study was rangeland exploiters in one of the northwest provinces of Iran (N = 66,867) of whom 384 people were selected as a sample and stratified random sampling method with proportional assignment. The research instrument was a questionnaire, the validity of which was confirmed by a panel of academic experts and the reliability of its items was verified using Cronbach’s alpha coefficient. The results showed that the variables of personal norms (PN) and the perceived behavioral control were able to predict 25.9% of the variance in terms of the conflicting behavior of rangeland exploiters; besides, ascription of responsibility, PN, perceived behavioral control, and awareness of consequences, which have been proposed as activators of PN, were able to explain a significant percentage (63.5%) of the variance in terms of PN. Furthermore, analysis of the effects of environmental and cultural values showed that conflict behaviors of exploiters were mostly affected by their underlying values. Generally, the results of this study would help in the development of more integrated and comprehensive models in the field of exploiters’ conflict behavior. Eventually, to change and improve the environmental behavior of exploiters to better management of conflict in rangelands, providing a list of considerations and competencies for agricultural extension and education, this article comes to the end.
... In making such decisions the individual refers back to some important referents (family, peers and opinion leaders) who think that a person should or should not perform a behavior. Furthermore, the arrangement of these reference groups is determined by the extent to which an individual desires to associate with these significant points of reference [7]. ...
Parental and peer influence play crucial roles in shaping career choices, and understanding their impact on agriculture is essential for devising effective strategies to address this issue. The main objective of the study was to examine the effects of parental and peer influence on youth career choices in agriculture. Data was collected from 486 male rural youth selected from district of Mardan, Pakistan. The study followed a cross-sectional design, and the respondents were selected using a multistage stratified random sampling technique. The collected data was analyzed with Chi-square test and Gamma statistics to test the strength and direction of the association between variables. The results show highly significant (P = 0.000, χ2=91.83) and negative (γ =-0.336) association between agrarian disinterest among youth and parents not wanting their children to pursue agriculture as a career. Similarly, a highly significant (P = 0.000, χ2=104.05) and negative (γ =-0.358) association was portrayed between agrarian disinterest among youth and parents disliking the participation of their children in farming. In addition, a highly significant (P = 0.000, χ2=50.21) and negative (γ =-0.260) association between agrarian disinterest among youth and parents' preference for their children to become engineers or doctors was evident. Additionally, the study found a significant (P = 0.000, χ2=115.52) and negative (γ =-0.381) association between agrarian disinterest among youth and friends looking down on those who did work as farmers. Likewise, a highly significant (P = 0.000, χ2=76.79) and negative (γ =-0.285) association was found between agrarian disinterest among youth and friends considering farming as a low-dignity job. Further, a highly significant (P = 0.000, χ2=48.29) and negative (γ =-0.274) association was depicted between agrarian disinterest among youth and friends considering someone successful if they did dignified work other than agriculture. Moreover, the family background was introduced as a control variable at a multivariate level, and found that youth from farming families are more prone to develop a highly negative attitude towards the agricultural profession under the influence of their parents and peers than youth from non-farming families. The study findings suggested that parents and peer roles in youth career decisions cannot be negated, by targeting them, youth can be easily accessed to attract them towards the agriculture sector. For this purpose, organized campaigns are needed to create awareness about the potential of the sector and motivate and inspire people to employment opportunities available in the agricultural sector. However, every campaign must be targeted to adequately focus on the youth and their local social contexts due to demographic variations.
... Attitude is the first TBP variable that affects behavioral intention (44). Any behavior is more likely to occur when a person has a positive attitude toward it (28,(45)(46)(47)(48)(49). On the other hand, if a person finds it useful to do something, they do it, and if they find the behavior harmful, they refuse to do it (50). ...
Introduction
Attention to local food among tourists is increasing day by day. However, studies on the behavior and intention of tourists towards consuming these foods are few. Limited studies in this field prompted us to help fill the research gap by doing this research.
Methods
This study aims to use the extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) by adding risk perception (RP) to investigate the tourists’ intentions towards local food (TILF) in Iran. The extended model tested 313 tourists visiting local food supplies.
Results
Results show that the extended TPB explains 87.8% of tourist intention variance. Three variables of the original TPB had positive impacts on tourists’ intentions. A notable result of this study was the realization of a negative relationship between RP and TILF.
Discussion
This research has provided recommendations to strengthen tourists’ intentions toward local foods by influencing their attitudes, mental beliefs, perceived behavioral control, and risk perception.
... This conceptual model considers, in addition to the three classical TPB factors, i.e., attitude (A), subjective norms (S.N.), and perceived behavioral control (PBC), a fourth variable, i.e., Risk Factors (RISK), and hypothesizes that all of these four elements could directly or indirectly influence the intention to purchase an insurance package (Hou and Hou, 2019;J. Müller et al., 2021;Wauters et al., 2010). ...
Agriculture is a risky industry and is present in every management choice the farmer makes. Farms can experiment with different tools that can contain the impact of adverse events to protect production facilities, investments, and income generated by farming. This is the context for the study conducted in Sicily on a sample of farms of different types to explain farmers' decision-making process in adopting insurance offered in the subsidized market. The study adopted three socio-psychological constructs, Attitude (ATT), Subjective Norm (S.N.), and Perceived Behavioural Control (PBC), derived from the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). It proposed the addition of a new construct, Risk Factors (RISK), and farm type. The results indicated that factors including Attitude, S.N., and PBC are positively significant when understanding farmers' intentions to adopt insurance. However, the additional factors included in the regression model (RISK and farm type) were statistically insignificant, rejecting the efficiency of an extended theory of planned behavior framework. Based on these results, it was concluded that combining extension services to improve awareness of the importance of insurance facilitated by the public contribution service could significantly influence farmers' intention to adopt it.
... In this category, reduced tillage systems in particular are well-known solutions to control soil losses and, to a lesser extent, runoff (Maetens et al., 2012;Mhazo et al., 2016). They are being endorsed by farmers to some extent (Lahmar, 2010), though adoption is still limited for technical, perception, or lack of knowledge issues (Soane et al., 2012;Wauters et al., 2010). There is therefore a strong interest in developing and promoting additional soil conservation techniques that can be integrated more easily into conventional cropping systems. ...
Soils of the loess belt of Western Europe are intensively cropped and particularly prone to runoff and soil erosion, especially when planted with row crops such as maize or potatoes, characterized by a low soil cover during erosive spring storms. In this context, micro-basin tillage techniques could help mitigate these risks while being fairly easy to integrate into conventional cropping systems, yet very few studies have investigated the effectiveness of this technique in a maize crop. Soil pitting was therefore tested across 14 site*years of field trials in Belgium by a newly designed roller adapted to a seeding unit forming small depressions in-between maize rows. Runoff and surface losses of sediments and pesticides were measured on soil pitted plots under natural rainfall and compared with conventionally tilled plots. Seasonal runoff and erosion rates were reduced on average by 69% and 83%, respectively, following soil pitting. Median curve number (CN) values calibrated (λ = 0.05) on this dataset are 68 for the control, and 63 for the soil pitting treatment. Analysis of individual rainfall event data reveals that the mitigation effect remains consistent throughout the season, and is even slightly higher for highly erosive rainfall events than for light events. Whereas herbicide concentrations, and hence in-situ ecotoxicity risk indicators, were similar between control and soil pitted treatments at the experimental plot scale, at larger scales the environmental impact on water bodies would be mitigated by soil pitting thanks to the reduction in absolute runoff and soil loss. Future research should further investigate the impacts of soil pitting on crop yields under a broad range of rainfall conditions.
... This paper introduces the theory of planned behavior into the scenario of farmers' forestry property transactions, explores the psychological factors and driving mechanisms of farmers' willingness to enter the forestry property market, and explains the decision-making process of farmers' behavior through the theory of planned behavior. Several scholars have researched and confirmed that the theory of planned behavior can significantly improve the explanatory power and prediction of behavioral intentions in research (Wauters et al., 2010;Borges et al., 2014;Schroeder et al., 2015;Hall et al., 2019). Therefore, based on the theory of planned behavior, we construct a psychological decision model for farmers to enter the forestry property market from three psychological cognitive factors: behavioral attitudes, subjective norms and perceptual behavioral control. ...
The Chinese government encourages farmers to enter the forestry property market for forestry property trading and promotes the standardization of the forestry property trading market. Unfortunately, the development of the forestry property market is still very slow. Farmers are the most important subject of mountain and forest management and the micro foundation of forestry property market operation, and their active market participation is the key to the healthy development of forestry property market. Based on the theory of planned behavior, this paper used the survey data of farmers in collective forest areas in three southern provinces of China to reveal the psychological decision-making process of farmers entering the forestry property market by structural equation model (SEM). The research results show that: (1) Farmers’ behavioral attitudes (AB), subjective norms (SN) and perceptual behavioral control (PBC) positively influence farmers’ willingness to enter the forestry property market. (2) An important reason why farmers’ intentions are largely not effectively translated into behavior is the constraint of PBC. (3) Reducing the risk of transfer and maintaining the interests of both parties constitute the main factors of AB, and the greatest external pressure on farmers’ willingness to enter the forestry property market comes from the opinions of village collectives. (4) PBC has a significant impact on behavior, where unfamiliarity with the forestry property market is the main factor affecting farmers’ PBC. Therefore, the government should further strengthen the propaganda of forestry property right market, improve the market service system, reduce the transaction cost, introduce specific encouragement policies and measures, and effectively consider farmers’ interest demands on forestry property trading; in addition, the power of grassroots organizations should be emphasized when formulating forestry property trading policies.
... The theory holds that intention is the antecedent condition of behavior, and intentions are driven by attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control. Previous studies have shown that TPB is powerful in explaining farmers' conservation of soil [35], safe use of fertilizers [36], adoption of straw incorporation techniques [37], adoption of Best Management Practices [38], and conservation of water resources [39]. ...
Green control techniques (GCT) are an important supporting technology to ensure sustainable agricultural development. To advance the adoption of GCT, it is crucial to understand the intention of farmers to adopt GCT and its related determinants. However, current research is mostly limited to using a single theoretical model to explore farmers’ intentions to adopt GCT, which is not conducive to revealing the determinants of farmers’ intentions to adopt GCT. To address this gap, this study integrates the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), the Innovation Diffusion Theory (IDT), and the Motivational Model (MM) based on research data from 362 rice farmers in Heshan District, Yiyang City, Hunan Province, and uses partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to empirically test and compare the above models. The model comparison results prove that the TPB (R2 = 0.818, Q2 = 0.705), TAM (R2 = 0.649, Q2 = 0.559), IDT (R2 = 0.782, Q2 = 0.674), and MM (R2 = 0.678, Q2 = 0.584) models all have explanatory power and predictive validity in the context of green control techniques. However, the integrated model (R2 = 0.843, Q2 = 0.725) is found to be superior to these individual theoretical models because it has larger values of R2, Q2, and smaller values of Asymptotically Efficient, Asymptotically Consistent, and provides a multifaceted understanding for identifying the factors influencing adoption intentions. The results of the path analysis show that attitude, perceived behavioral control, perceived usefulness, subjective norm, and visibility significantly and positively influence adoption intentions in both the single and integrated models and are determinants of farmers’ intentions to adopt GCT.
... (Ajzen, 1991) The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) (Ajzen, 1991, Figure 1) is used as the primary theoretical framework of this study. The TPB has been in studies examining intention and entrepreneurial behaviour (Kautonen , Gelderen & Tornikoski, 2013), environmental conservation intent (Wauters, Bielders, Poesen, Govers & Mathijs, 2010), safe sex practices (Fisher, Fisher, Bryan & Misovich, 2002;Sutton, McVey & Glanz, 1999), exercise behaviours (Ickes & Sharma, 2011), sleeping patterns and intentions (Knowlden, Sharma & Bernard, 2012), dangerous driving behaviours (Elliott, Armitage & Baughan, 2003) and drug use (Hu & Lanese 1998;Norman, Conner & Bell 1999). Researchers have used the TPB in a number of ways to predict and explore reasons for different human behaviour. ...
Since the beginning of 2015, national exam in Indonesia was no longer used as graduation standard. This policy was made because of negative effects of this standardized test toward educational system in Indonesia. One of the effects is the teaching method used by teacher that rely on memorization and drill practice. The aim of this study is to see whether this new policy has an impact in teaching learning process in mathematics classroom. The samples of this study were 17 mathematics teachers from six different provinces in Indonesia. Before this policy issued, 12 teachers use conventional learning, while five teachers use unconventional learning methods such as problem solving, open ended problems, and contextual learning. The results of questionnaire reveal that from 12 teachers who use conventional method, only two teachers that change their teaching method after the new policy about national exam released. It means that 83% of teachers who use conventional learning in this study keep using the same method. Easy in the implementation and easy to understand by students are the main reasons of teachers decision to keep implementing this method. This finding shows that the changing of intended curriculum by government as decision maker is not followed by the changing of implemented curriculum-pedagogy- by teachers. Based on the result of this study, the recommendations are given to incorporate the vision and mission of government and teachers in order to reach the desired goal as well as for doing further research on this issue.
... Attitude can be described as the level of positive or negative judgement of a certain behavior (Beedell and Rehman 2000;Wauters et al. 2010). Subjective norms are the societal influence surrounding a person, such as family, friends, colleagues, prominent or influential people, on their decision-making process (L opez-Mosquera 2016). ...
The development and optimization of more sustainable pest control methods, primarily focusing on preventive strategies and non-chemical tools, is a global priority for scientists and agrochemical companies. This study examines Sicilian farmers’ willingness to adopt organic pest management practices for protecting tomatoes and zucchini from two key insect pests, namely Tuta absoluta and Bemisia tabaci. We implemented the Theory of Planned Behavior as a cognitive model to explore individual motivations that influence farmers’ readiness to adopt sustainable pest control practices. Results from partial least squares structural equation modeling on a sample of 85 farmers emphasize the importance of farmers’ behavioral constructs in the decision-making process: Farmers’ attitudes are the strongest predictors of intention (ß = 0.454; p < 0.01), followed by social norms (ß = 0.201; p < 0.1) and perceived behavioral control (ß = 0.184; p < 0.01). Intention and perceived behavioral control constructs positively and significantly affect the stated behavior construct (respectively, ß = 0.23; ß = 0.24). Traditional farm/farmer socio-economic characteristics have a notable, yet smaller, influence: Farmers’ education positively predicts their willingness to adopt (ß = 0.292; p < 0.01), while farmers’ age is negatively correlated (ß = −0.130; p < 0.01). Informational campaigns on the importance of organic pest management on improving soil health and biodiversity should be promoted to strengthen farmers attitudes toward organic pest management. Similarly, policy-makers should enhance farmers perceived behavioral control by providing better information about characteristics and procedures of organic pest management protocols.
... manifold and have to be analysed further. However, Wauters et al. (2010) and Fantappiè et al. (2020) found strong indications that farmers' adoption of agri-environmental measures correlates with both their educational level and age in Belgium and Western Sicily. Our results do not allow us to draw conclusions about farmers' education-or age-related perception of the apparent erosion problem on their land and may be addressed in future studies. ...
As a national Agri-environmental Programme in Austria, Ö PUL subsidises mulching/no-till and cover crops to mitigate soil erosion. In this study, the participation rates and effectiveness of these Ö PUL-measures are analysed. In addition, the impact of different farming systems (conventional farming vs organic farming) on the soil erosion risk in Austria are compared. A national analysis is carried out, while local data is implemented at the scale of agricultural fields. Therefore, we use the well-established Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE). The analysis demonstrates that 1) soil erosion is strongly related to regional-specific management practices, and Ö PUL-measures in their current form are not consistently applied in areas where erosion mitigation is desired, 2) the Ö PUL-measures mulching/no-till and cover crops are not used to their full potential due to a lack of participation, while fields with implemented Ö PUL-measures indicate a significantly lower chance of soil erosion > 11 t ha − 1 yr − 1 than others and 3) the lower soil erosion in organic farming is due to a lower proportion of erosion-prone crops in the crop rotation compared to conventional farming. Soil erosion > 11 t ha − 1 yr − 1 is approx. 1.5 times more likely on conventional fields compared to organic fields, suggesting that both farming types require further erosion mitigation strategies. Actual implementation rates cannot reach the potentially high effectiveness of Ö PUL-measures against erosion. The authors suggest that participation could be raised if options for additional measures are offered by the Ö PUL programme, such as grassed waterways or micro dams in potato farming.
... Another advantage of the TPB is its capability to test the validity of behavioural, normative and control beliefs that have been captured during the qualitative analysis in a broader quantitative context. Furthermore, the TPB was selected for the theoretical framework of the study on the basis that previous studies on farmers' attitudes to specific actions have successfully examined planned behaviour using the TPB (e. g. Wauters et al., 2010;López-Mosquera et al., 2014;Meijer et al., 2015;Beer and Theuvsen, 2019;Damalas, 2021;Mahdavi, 2021) while there is an evident lack of research conducted using this theory to determine intention of tree planting within Ireland. In Ireland, the TPB has been successfully used to determine farmers' intentions to adopt a nutrient management plan (Daxini et al., 2019) and engage in paddock grazing (Hyland et al., 2018). ...
Highlights
• Levels of afforestation among farmers in Ireland is critically low.
•Intention to plant is directly determined by farmers’ attitude and moral norms.
•Farmers regard the opinions of family and local farmers highly.
•Environmental benefits was cited as the main advantage to having trees on farms.
•Negative impacts on pasture was cited as the main disadvantage of trees on farms.
Abstract
Agroforestry has been cited as a means to increase sustainability and biodiversity at a farm level while allowing farming to continue on the same parcel of land. However, even with profitable financial incentives currently in place to promote agroforestry uptake, uptake remains low in Ireland. This highlights that farmer decision-making regarding the adoption of agri-environmental measures do not follow the assumed economic rationality. To better understand the factors that influence farmer decision-making with respect to tree planting on farms, this study used an extended Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) to identify the main attitudes, influencers and intentions of Irish dairy and drystock farmers to planting trees on their land. The barriers to these farmers adopting agroforestry were also investigated. An online cross-sectional survey using a semi-structured questionnaire was administered to a nationally representative sample of the farmers in Ireland. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was used to assess the direct and indirect effects of TPB constructs on intention towards adopting agroforestry. According to the SEM analysis, the TPB constructs explained 74% of the variance in intention to plant trees. The results demonstrate that these farmers are mainly driven by their attitude and moral norms which in turn are shaped through the views of their influential people such as advisors and local farmers. The current method of increasing agroforestry uptake is mainly top-down driven and focused on the economic incentives currently in place. New methods to increase agroforestry should focus on encouraging people of influential status within the farming community to promote agroforestry, and through promoting co-design and co-creative systems.
... Effective land use and adoption of best management practices are essential for erosion mitigation [14,15]. Conducting a thorough assessment of the watershed is the first step in selecting the best management approach [16]. ...
Soil conservation (SC) is essential to maintain the reservoir service life and increase the yield since soil erosion is a major global concern that adversely affects not only the storage capacity but also the land fertility. This study evaluates the spatio-temporal variation of soil erosion using the popular SWAT model and identifies the best SC practice for Tekeze watershed located in the Northern part of Ethiopia. To accomplish this, four soil conservation management scenarios involving baseline, terracing, contouring, and grassed waterway scenarios are selected for soil loss evaluation. The SWAT model was calibrated and validated with R2 values of 0.7 and 0.9 and NSE values of 0.8 and 0.7, respectively, indicating satisfactory model performance. Five sub-basins of the catchment were found to be more susceptible to erosion with an average annual soil loss of 25.15 tons/ha/yr. Employment of the proposed SC measures in the sub-watershed erosion was reduced by 35.18%, 27.11%, and 18.76%, respectively, which is significant when compared with the baseline scenario. Since the investment cost of execution of an SC measure in a large watershed is very high, priority areas are also identified for cost savings as well as improved work efficiency.
... ISs, attitude (ATT), and knowledge (KNO) are often employed to predict farmers' green behavior, and ATT and KNO generally play a mediating role between ISs and behavior (Bondori et al. 2018). In some studies using the theory of planned behavior to study farmers' intention (INT) or behavior (BEH) in adopting SEPs, ATT tended to be the strongest factor influencing farmers' green behavior (Wauters et al. 2010;Lalani et al. 2016;Li et al. 2020;Imani et al. 2021). Farmers' awareness and concern about environmental risks tend to promote positive attitudes (Farani et al. 2019). ...
The literature reports that trust in information sources (ISs) is an important determinant of farmers’ adoption of sustainable environmental practices. However, few in-depth studies have focused on the differences in trust among different ISs in heterogeneous farmers’ green behavior. Therefore, it is challenging for heterogeneous farmers to design efficient and differentiated information strategies. This study proposes a benchmark model to explore differences in trust in different ISs in the application of organic fertilizers (OFs) to farmers at different scales. A total of 361 farmers of a geographically indicated agricultural product in China were evaluated to understand their trust in different ISs when adopting OFs. The results identify the differentiation of heterogeneous farmers’ trust in different ISs when considering green practices. Specifically, large-scale farmers’ green behavior is more likely to be influenced by trust in formal ISs (strength–weakness ratio of 1.15 for the effect of two ISs), whereas small-scale farmers’ green behavior is strongly influenced by trust in informal ISs (strength–weakness ratio of 4.62 for the effect of two ISs). This difference was mainly caused by differences in farmers’ information acquisition ability, level of social capital, and preference for social learning. The model and findings of this study can aid policy-makers in designing effective and differentiated information interventions for different types of farmers to maximize their adoption of sustainable environmental practices.
... Thus, higher values of positive attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control mean strong behavioral intention to perform a particular activity (Ajzen, 1991;Liebe et al., 2011). This model has diverse applications and is significant in anticipating human behavior for environmental conservation and even for political participation (Fielding et al., 2008;Ford et al., 2009;Kaiser et al., 2005;Mannetti et al., 2004;Oreg & Katz-Gerro, 2006;Tonglet et al., 2004;Wauters et al., 2010). Considering the applications of the TPB model, the present study uses attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control as constructs to study the pro-environmental behavior of the residents in the study area. ...
Native residents are indispensable participants in developing and conserving the natural environment. Specifying the factors that lead to responsible behavior among the local people can help increase sustainability. This paper aims to investigate the pro-environmental behavior among the local residents of the Kashmir region defined by the components of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) and Value Belief Norm (VBN) Theory. To analyze the data, Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) and Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) have been used as research methods. The results reveal that the three components of TPB (general environmental attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control) have a positive and significant impact on the pro-environmental behavior of residents. Moreover, the findings also demonstrate that the factors of VBN (altruistic, egoistic, and biospheric values) significantly influence the general environmental attitude which in turn impacts the pro-environmental behavior of local residents. The paper seeks to contribute to the existing literature by adding local community insights based on the explanations given by socio-psychological theories within the context of the natural environment. The study will help policymakers to understand better the residents’ intentions and pro-environmental behavior so that they can develop strategies to manage and combat environmental problems.
... The behavioral control parameter is of utmost importance as it revolves with the perception of an individual's level of ease or difficulty in performing a behavior (Ajzen, 1991). The intention to finally adopt a behavior often depends upon the capability to handle its operation (Hou & Wu, 2010;Wauters et al., 2010;Zorn et al., 2012)s. Although the behavioral control fluctuates with situation and other actions, having an overall control on the behavior generates an important aspect. ...
In this era of organic food consumption, it is important to determine how farmers are reacting to the choice of green pesticides in their production of crops. The theory of planned behavior has been used by a number of researchers in the past in determining the farmers intention related to organic food production. The study here is an attempt at conducting e systematic literature review through PRISMA to understand the use of the model in this perspective. The study reviews 51 research articles in the topic. The qualitative analysis of secondary sources in the study reveals that all the three factors in the theory of planned behavior namely-attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control plays a significant role in measuring a farmer's intention to use green pesticides.
... Subsequently, the TPB model was applied to explain a variety of behaviors, including soil conservation practices [36]; conservation of water in the lodging context [37]; food waste behavior [38,39]; solid waste separation behavior [40]; entrepreneurship [41,42]; technology adoption [43,44]; unethical behavior [45]. The TPB model has also been well-applied in the domain of green or sustainable consumption to explain the consumer's intention to purchase and use environmentally sustainable products [15,[46][47][48] and the consumption of organic products [49,50]. ...
Due to environmental degradation, using environment-friendly products has become necessary to reduce carbon emissions. However, the consumption of such products is still below expectations because these products are usually costlier than their traditional counterparts. The current study aims to investigate consumer behavior towards environment-friendly products using Ajzen’s theory of planned behavior as a theoretical model. The study seeks to examine the role of the key determinates of environmentally conscious purchase behavior, such as ethical obligation and green self-identity. A total of 386 responses were collected from consumers living in a few major cities of northern India using purposive sampling. The data were analyzed using structural equation modeling in Amos 22.0. The results demonstrated that attitudes towards environment-friendly products perceived behavioral control and green self-identity as the major determinants of green purchase intentions. In addition, attitude was reported to mediate the effect of ethical obligation on green purchase intentions and green self-identity was found to moderate the effect of attitude on green purchase intentions. Additionally, green self-identity was also reported to moderate the relationship between ethical obligation and attitude. The study adds value to the existing literature by signifying the role of green self-identity and ethical obligation in stimulating consumers’ green purchase intentions. The findings of the study are also meaningful for marketers and policymakers.
... The results of the effects of PBC on farmers' behavioral intention was supportive of Hypothesis (7) and consistent with those of 33,42,43,59,68 . The higher a person's self-esteem and the belief that they are capable of pro-environmental action, the more likely they are to engage, because PBC illustrates the ease or difficulty of understanding a person's behavior 108,109 . In other words, pro-environmental behaviors are more frequent in farmers who believe that they possess the knowledge and skills needed to perform such behaviors 50 . ...
Sustainable agriculture requires cooperative and coordinated action across multiple sectors and policy domains. However, farmer-stakeholder behaviors and action remain pivotal to sustainable food system management in many rural development contexts. We assess farmer pro-environmental behavioral intention through the development and application of a novel integrated approach combining two dominant psychological theories of behavior change: the Norm Activation Model (NAM) and Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). We apply this framework to targeted research with potato growers of Kerman Province in southeastern Iran, using survey data (sample n = 381) analyzed through structural equation modeling (SEM). The integrated NAM-TPB model provides insight into both pro-social and self-interested motivations for farmer pro-environmental behavioral intention, with the model explaining 77% of total variance. We found that three variables, Awareness of Consequence (AC), Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC), and Subjective Norms (SN) were the strongest indicators of pro-environmental behavioral intention. We recommend therefore that agricultural extension and state-led farmer education should first emphasize awareness-raising of negative environmental impacts of current farming practices within training programs, and second, improve social learning amongst farmer communities through sustained farmer community engagement, thus "stabilizing" a social norm of environmental protection amongst peer networks of agricultural workers.
... This may have led to introduction and enforcement of stringent new laws and market standards that brought about fear of penalties, hence motivating the vegetable growers to behave in a way that is perceived as 'socially desirable' (Mills et al., 2017). Wauters et al. (2010) and van Dijk et al. (2016) also found statistically significant effects of subjective norm on the intention to perform conservation and agri-environmental measures, respectively. ...
Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) are protocols that address farm production and post-harvest practices which contribute to food safety, quality, socioeconomic viability, environmental sustainability, and animal welfare. India and Kenya have adopted GAP standards successfully among export-oriented large scale vegetable farmers, mostly through joint public-private initiatives. Focus is shifting to small-scale farmers who risk being marginalized from the markets unless they get adequately informed, technically prepared, and culturally organized to exploit the standards. Vegetables are highly vulnerable to pathogen and microbial contamination. GAP is one way of addressing this risk. However, the adoption of GAP among small-scale vegetable growers has remained a challenge. By use of the Theory of Planned Behaviour, this paper explores the psychological factors underlying intention to adopt GAP among vegetable growers in India and Kenya. The results demonstrate that in Punjab, the intention to adopt GAP is significantly influenced by attitude (χ2 (1, N=100) = 36.327, p <.001); whereas in Nakuru, attitude and subjective norms (χ2 (1, N=100) = 4.003, p =.045 and χ2 (1, N=100) = 11.565, p <.001) significantly influenced the intention to adopt the protocols. Perceived Behavioural Control had no significant influence on intention to adopt.
... These results support some studies (Baptiste et al., 2012;Moan and Rise, 2011;Mullan et al., 2013), which indicated that perceived behavioral control was the strongest predictor of intention. However, studies in different fields such as soil conservation practices (Wauters et al., 2010) and recycling studies (Nigbur et al.,2010) suggest that perceived behavioral control (self-efficacy) is a weak indicator of intention. It can be expected that using TPB yields different results for different research fields because individuals are motivated by various factors when making decisions based on safety, health, or environmental conservation. ...
Urbanization has brought about more impenetrable surfaces, and this causes most regions’ stormwater systems to be not ready to manage flooding occasions related to increased stormwater overflow. To deal with stormwater management concerns, a growing number of states and regions have been implementing green infrastructure. In addition, municipalities must develop green infrastructure on publicly owned land and urge people to install green infrastructure on their private property to meet stormwater management goals. The factors that influence people’s willingness to implement their green infrastructure have been studied in the past. However, very few studies have comprehensively researched the barriers to adoption, and social barriers, for the most part, have been ignored. This research aims to understand better the factors that influence citizens’ desire to install green infrastructure by investigating socio-cognitive factors and other influencing factors. An online questionnaire was established for this purpose. Statistical analyses were conducted using hierarchical logistic regression models built for each form of green infrastructure in the study. Self-efficacy, subjective norm, visual appearance, maintenance time, and general knowledge were all found to be significant determinants of a resident’s willingness to install green infrastructure. In the current study, however, attitudes and cost identified as significant barriers in the literature were not found significant to predict willingness to implement green infrastructure. Moreover, these findings suggest that municipalities may successfully promote green infrastructure adoption on private land by training and sponsoring exemplary projects in residential districts.
... This study proposes an integration of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) by including additional variables to increase its predictive accuracy (Joao et al., 2015;Rezaei et al., 2018;Tama et al., 2021;Sarkar et al., 2022). This conceptual model considers, in addition to the three classical TPB factors, namely attitude (A), subjective norms (SN) and perceived behavioral control (PBC), three other factors (Hou and Hou, 2019) such as perceived innovation characteristics (PIC), Benefits (B), and Transferability (T) and hypothesizes that all these six elements could directly or indirectly influence innovation intention (Wauters et al., 2010; . /fsufs. . ...
Introduction
The combination of knowledge, personal skills and company resources influences, all things being equal, such as the availability of new technologies, market conditions and other factors external to the company, farmers in their innovation choices. This study is an attempt to understand which psychological constructs influence the decision-making process of farmers specialized in typical Mediterranean crops with regard to innovation. Previous studies on the adoption of agricultural innovations have often considered socio economic characteristics and ignored the underlying motivational factors that influence the behavioral intention of farmers.
Methods
This study adopted three socio-psychological constructs, Attitude (ATT), Subjective Norm (SN), and Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC), derived from the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), and proposed three new constructs, Perceived Innovations Characteristics (PIC), Benefits (B), and Transferability (T), thus using an Extended Model of the Theory of Planned Behavior.
Results
The outcome of the multiple regression revealed that farmers' intention (I) to adopt sustainable irrigation innovations is positively influenced by attitude (ATT), subjective norm (SN), and perceived innovation characteristics (PIC). This last construct had mediating effects on the indirect relationships between PBC, benefits (B), transferability (T), and intention (I).
Discussion
The results provide numerous insights, useful both for outlining the demand for innovation and for calibrating future policies aimed at the primary sector, especially on the sustainable management of irrigation resources. In particular, the analyses carried out highlight the importance of factors external to the company as key levers in shaping the demand for innovations.
... According to the findings, the construct attitude (β = 0.699 and significant at p < 0.001) has the greatest significantly positive impact on CA continuance intention, supporting the fourth hypothesis (H 4 ). This result is supported by studies conducted in various disciplines on predicting behavioral intention [58,131,[139][140][141]. However, several previous studies have shown that Attitude has a significantly positive but not the highest impact on behavior [44,75,128,142,143]. ...
Despite being widely advocated as a climate-smart farming system, the adoption of conservation agriculture (CA) among Bangladeshi farmers has remained surprisingly low. Evidence indicates that farmers’ behavior regarding the adoption and continuation of CA is affected by their socioeconomic and psychological factors. This study combined the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theories to examine the socio-psychological determinants of Bangladeshi farmers’ behavior regarding the adoption of CA. The proposed model included both reflective and formative measurements. Based on data collected from 201 CA farmers, this research used a variance-based structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) approach to test the model. The analysis showed that the components of this integrated model explained more variance (Intention: 48.9%; Attitude: 59.2%) than the original TAM framework (Intention: 45.8%; Attitude: 54.5%). Farmers’ attitudes toward the continuation of CA were most influenced by the Relative Advantage (RA) of CA (β = 0.337). The low level of Complexity (β = 0.225) and Compatibility (β = 0.273) of CA had a significant positive effect on attitude. In a campaign to encourage farmers to act more sustainably, interventions should emphasize CA’s long-term benefits, such as its effects on soil, yield, and the environment.
... Theo lý thuyết TPB, ý định sẽ bị ảnh hưởng bởi ba cấu trúc tâm lý, đó là thái độ (ATT), chuẩn mực chủ quan (SN) và kiểm soát hành vi nhận thức (PBC). Thái độ đề cập đến mức độ mà một người đánh giá hành vi được đề cập [11], [12]. SN được định nghĩa là áp lực xã hội nhận thức được để thực hiện một hành vi ủng hộ xã hội, trong khi PBC đề cập đến nhận thức của một cá nhân về khả năng của họ để thực hiện hành vi đó [10]. ...
Nghiên cứu này nhằm đánh giá tác động của các yếu tố tới việc chia sẻ kiến thức nhằm thích ứng với biến đổi khí hậu của nông dân ở huyện Hòa An. Dữ liệu được thu thập qua phỏng vấn 180 hộ nông dân đại diện cho các hộ đang thực hiện canh tác thông thường ở các xã và ứng dụng mô hình SEM. Kết quả phân tích cho thấy rằng yếu tố hành vi, chuẩn mực xã hội và kiểm soát hành vi có tác động tích cực tới ý định chia sẻ kiến thức về thích ứng với biến đổi khí hậu của nông dân. Theo đó, việc tăng khả năng tương tác, chia sẻ kiến thức với nhau sẽ giúp người nông dân nâng cao khả năng ứng phó và thích ứng với biến đổi khí hậu trong canh tác nông nghiệp. Để thúc đẩy nông dân chia sẻ kiến thức về ứng phó với biến đổi khí hậu trong canh tác nông nghiệp, chính quyền địa phương có thể xem xét tới việc tạo lập các nhóm online để đẩy mạnh việc chia sẻ kiến thức giữa các nông dân. Trong nghiên cứu này, tác giả nhấn mạnh vào kiến thức tiềm ẩn, thứ mà được nông dân tích lũy qua quá trình ứng phó với biến đổi khí hậu, thực hành các giải pháp trên thực tế.
... Social norms refer to a person's perceptions of social pressure placed upon them to perform (or not) a particular behaviour (Beedell and Rehman 2000;Wauters et al. 2010). Injunctive social norms reflect 'what is approved or disapproved by society', while descriptive social norms capture 'how most important others behave in a given situation' (Reid and Aiken 2013). ...
Context Koalas are an Australian icon and their numbers are seriously declining. In some regions, a key threat to koalas is vehicle strikes. Therefore, understanding what might convince people to be more vigilant and willing to slow down in areas with high koala numbers is an important research undertaking. Aims This study aims to use the wildlife value orientation (WVO) framework, a value-based segmentation process, to extend conservation insight. It will do this by demonstrating the application of social cognitive theory (SCT), to investigate how wildlife beliefs can help in identifying worthwhile groups to target with wildlife conservation interventions. The findings of this study can be used to benefit koalas by assisting conservation planning efforts to decrease driving speed and promote positive changes in driving behaviour. Method Data collection through intercept surveys was employed by convenience sampling in 2019. A total of 661 responses were collected from residents of a koala priority conservation area in Queensland, Australia. Respondents were asked about their wildlife values, beliefs, attitudes, norms, barriers, and intentions to slow down, while driving in a koala area. Four key groups were identified based on respondents’ WVO (i.e. mutualists, pluralists, traditionalists and distanced) and multigroup structural equation modelling was conducted to understand group differences. Key results The analysis identified several significant psychographic factors that influenced people’s intentions to protect koalas dependent on what wildlife value respondents held. Injunctive norms were important, positively influencing the intention of traditionalists and pluralists to slow down while driving in a koala area. Individual attitude positively influenced safe driving intention for pluralists, while perceived barriers negatively influenced mutualists’ intention to slow down. Other groups did not show similar results. Conclusion A person’s WVO can influence their intention to protect koalas by modifying their driving behaviour. Various social marketing approaches can benefit conservation strategies aimed at different WVO groups with targeted messages and interventions for each group. Implications This paper demonstrates the value of SCT in explaining people’s intention to slow down to protect koalas. The identification of group differences demonstrates that varied approaches are required to deliver behavioural change to benefit koalas.
... The Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) (Ajzen, 1991) is an empirically supported psychological framework shown to explain predictors of behavior across a wide range of contexts. Within conservation psychology, TPB has been applied to explain many areas, including the predictors of soil conservation practice (Wauters et al., 2010), intention to visit eco-friendly tourist destinations (Ahmad et al., 2020), and consumption of environmentally friendly food and beverages (Wang & Wang, 2016). The TPB has also been applied to understanding the transport behaviors (private vehicle or shuttle bus) of visitors accessing varying sites within National Parks (Curtis et al., 2010). ...
Increasing pro-environmental behavior may combat environmental deterioration and promote animal and human welfare. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), we investigated how an Australian zoo-based seal encounter influenced participants’ pro-environmental intentions and behavior at 1-month follow-up. Participants were 113 seal encounter visitors, with n = 29 providing 1-month post-encounter data. Pre-encounter, participants reported past and intended pro-environmental behaviors, and TPB constructs (attitudes, perceived behavioral control, subjective and moral norms). Post-encounter, participants rated their experience and future pro-environmental intentions. At 1-month follow-up, participants again reported their pro-environmental behaviors. The model explained past pro-environmental behaviors and future behavioral intentions (but not plastic use specifically), with subjective norms being the most important. Unlike past research, moral norms were not significant, perhaps due to the zoo-based research context. Importantly, participants reported a decrease in plastic use 1-month post-encounter. These findings provide suggestions for zoos to design encounters targeting subjective norms to promote pro-environmental behavior.
... Understanding the educated generation's mindset or attitude (this study describes "attitude" as a way that he / she thinks and feel about somebody / something) toward jute goods and jute entrepreneurship is critical to resurrecting this industry. However, attitudes appear to be vast assemblages of information, experience, expectations, and obligations capable of shaping powerful consequences on any collection of behavior (Palacios 2005;Wauters et al. 2010). Besides, attitudes, particularly toward any new approach or condition, provide information essential for developing a measurement framework (Torres et al. 2020). ...
We examined the factors affecting the potential of jute products and the supportive mindset toward the revival of jute entrepreneurship in Bangladesh. By using data obtained from an online questionnaire survey, we quantitatively investigated the relationship between the respondents’ mindset and their attributes. First, we found that the employment status as self-employed, the attitudes of Bangladeshi society, and jute product design were the most crucial variables influencing the potential of jute products. Secondly, the employment status as self-employed, the use of jute goods in daily life, and constraints on jute entrepreneurship had the most marked positive effects on supportive mindsets toward the need for jute entrepreneurship. Thirdly, the factors regarding inclination toward agri-entrepreneurs and conditions under which money could be saved had a significant negative effect on supportive mindsets toward jute entrepreneurship. This suggests that there is a trade-off between fostering entrepreneurship in agriculture and reviving a declining industry. Therefore, it is important to enhance further actions that will support the jute industry to revitalize.
... It is inconsistent withBorges et al. (2014);Wauters et al. (2017); and Wauters and Mathjs (2013) are reported the intention to continue applying technology adoption of farmers is only influence by reputable people. Farmers feel more confident to adopt the VietGAP through the success of other farmers byTinh et al., (2019), and it's aligned withLäpple and Kelley (2013); andWauters et al. (2010) as a same conclusion. The result has positively associated with individual behaviour on VietGAP and it were consistent with the result found from the study byDill et al. (2015);Intern. ...
ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Purpose: The objectives of this study to identify the indicator of factors make Asian farmer community influence towards modern technology farming practices and adaptation. Theoretical Framework: 11 of final recent literature had reported according to the eligibility and screening procedure which focus on Design/methodology/approach: using thematic analysis guided by ROSES 2018 to conduct systematic literature review. ROSES protocol as a guidance through five key methodological review processes that begins with identification screening using two eligibility databases namely Scopus and Web of Science. After formulating the research questions, quality appraisal and data extraction are done and the final process is analysis. Findings: From thematic analysis, this 11 of final review articles had identify six main themes 1) demographic indicator; 2) perception and belief indicators, 3) perceived awareness 4) technology acceptance indicators; 5) internal factor indicators; and 6) external factor indicators. From the six main themes, the review found another 33 sub-themes. Research, practical & social implications: There is a significant contribution into the body of existing knowledge and for practical implications. The findings explained the significant importance factors of technology behavioural intention and adaptation indicators to Asian community such as: 1) Listed factors may influence and transform the traditional agriculture into modern agriculture practices among Asian farmer community; 2) A government strategies and policy for strengthening future agriculture sector and 3) to recommend future direction for researcher in this area of study. Originality/value: The result had identified a growing number of literature on the factors can motivate and encourage Asian Farmer to adopt modern technology into their farming which can contribute the most importance to the government and policy RESUMO Finalidade: Os objetivos deste estudo para identificar o indicador de fatores fazem com que a comunidade agrícola asiática influencie as práticas e adaptações da agricultura de tecnologia moderna. Estrutura teórica: 11 da literatura final recente tinham relatado de acordo com o procedimento de elegibilidade e triagem que se concentra em Projeto/método/abordagem: utilizando a análise temática guiada pela ROSES 2018 para conduzir uma revisão sistemática da literatura. Protocolo ROSES como orientação através de cinco processos-chave de revisão metodológica que começam com a triagem de identificação usando dois bancos de dados de elegibilidade, o Scopus e o Web of Science. Após a formulação das perguntas de pesquisa, a avaliação da qualidade e a extração de dados são feitas e o processo final é a análise. Descobertas: A partir da análise temática, estes 11 artigos de revisão final identificaram seis temas principais: 1) indicador demográfico; 2) indicadores de percepção e crença; 3) consciência percebida; 4) indicadores de aceitação de tecnologia; 5) indicadores de fatores internos; e 6) indicadores de fatores externos. A partir dos seis temas principais, a revisão encontrou outros 33 subtemas. Pesquisa, implicações práticas e sociais: Há um significativo contribuição para o corpo de conhecimentos existentes e para implicações práticas. Os resultados explicaram a importância significativa dos fatores de intenção comportamental da tecnologia e dos indicadores de adaptação à comunidade asiática, como por exemplo: 1) Os fatores listados podem influenciar e transformar a agricultura tradicional em práticas agrícolas modernas entre a comunidade de agricultores asiáticos; 2) Uma estratégia e política governamental para fortalecer o setor agrícola do futuro e 3) recomendar direcionamento futuro para o pesquisador nesta área de estudo. Originalidade/valor: O resultado tinha identificado um número crescente de literatura sobre os fatores que podem motivar e encorajar o agricultor asiático a adotar tecnologia moderna em sua agricultura, a qual pode contribuir com a maior importância para o governo e para a elaboração de políticas. Apesar disso, os países da ASEAN ainda estão atrasados em relação aos países avançados, particularmente no setor agrícola. De fato, não houve estudos suficientes que revisassem sistematicamente a literatura existente sobre intenção comportamental e adaptação da tecnologia moderna na região da Ásia. Portanto, é necessário rever a literatura existente sobre os fatores que influenciam o agricultor asiático na intenção comportamental e na adaptação da tecnologia. Palavras-chave: Revisão Sistemática da Literatura, Sustentabilidade da Agricultura, Intenção e Adaptação da Tecnologia Moderna, Agricultor Asiático. HACIA EL LOGRO DE LA SOSTENIBILIDAD AGRÍCOLA A LARGO PLAZO: UNA REVISIÓN SISTEMÁTICA DE LA INTENCIÓN DE COMPORTAMIENTO DE LOS AGRICULTORES ASIÁTICOS RESPECTO A LA AGRICULTURA CON TECNOLOGÍA MODERNA Y LOS INDICADORES CLAVE DE ADOPCIÓN RESUMEN Propósito: Los objetivos de este estudio para identificar el indicador de los factores hacen que la influencia de la comunidad de agricultores asiáticos hacia la tecnología moderna las prácticas agrícolas y la adaptación. Marco teórico: 11 de la literatura reciente final había informado de acuerdo con la elegibilidad y el procedimiento de selección que se centran en Diseño/metodología/enfoque: se utilizó el análisis temático guiado por ROSES 2018 para llevar a cabo la revisión sistemática de la literatura. El protocolo ROSES como guía a través de cinco procesos de revisión metodológica clave que comienza con la selección de identificación utilizando dos bases de datos de elegibilidad, a saber, Scopus maker. Despite, ASEAN countries are still lagging behind advance countries particularly in agriculture sector. Indeed, there were insufficient studies that systematically review the existing literature review on behavioural intention and adaptation of modern technology in Asia region. Hence, it's a need to review the existing of literature on factors influencing Asian Farmer in technology behavioural intention and adaptation. y Web of Science. Después de formular las preguntas de investigación, se realiza la evaluación de la calidad y la extracción de datos y el proceso final es el análisis. Resultados: A partir del análisis temático, los 11 artículos revisados identificaron seis temas principales: 1) indicador demográfico; 2) indicadores de percepción y creencia; 3) conocimiento percibido; 4) indicadores de aceptación de la tecnología; 5) indicadores de factores internos; y 6) indicadores de factores externos. A partir de los seis temas principales, la revisión encontró otros 33 subtemas. Investigación, implicaciones prácticas y sociales: Existe una importante contribución al conjunto de conocimientos existentes y a las implicaciones prácticas. Los resultados explican la importancia de los factores de los indicadores de intención de comportamiento y adaptación a la tecnología para la comunidad asiática: 1) los factores enumerados pueden influir y transformar la agricultura tradicional en prácticas agrícolas modernas entre la comunidad de agricultores asiáticos; 2) las estrategias y políticas gubernamentales para fortalecer el sector agrícola en el futuro y 3) recomendar la dirección futura para el investigador en esta área de estudio. Originalidad/valor: El resultado ha identificado un número creciente de literatura sobre los factores que pueden motivar y animar a los agricultores asiáticos a adoptar la tecnología moderna en su agricultura que puede contribuir a la mayor importancia para el gobierno y los responsables políticos. A pesar de ello, los países de la ASEAN siguen estando por detrás de los países avanzados, especialmente en el sector agrícola. De hecho, no hay suficientes estudios que revisen sistemáticamente la literatura existente sobre la intención de comportamiento y la adaptación de la tecnología moderna en la región de Asia. Por lo tanto, es necesario revisar la bibliografía existente sobre los factores que influyen en la intención de comportamiento y la adaptación a la tecnología de los agricultores asiáticos. Palabras clave: Revisión Sistemática de la Literatura, Sostenibilidad Agrícola, Intención y Adaptación a la Tecnología Moderna, Agricultor Asiático.
... Therefore, we used SPSS 26.0 to test the reliability of the scales. After testing, Cronbach's α values of 0.897 for the Attitude toward Behavior Scale, 0.875 for the Subjective Normative Scale, and 0.918 for the Perceived Behavioral Control Scale were obtained, all of which were above 0.700, indicating that the core independent variables had high internal consistency with the scales and excellent reliability [19,39,40]. Therefore, it was reasonable to use the mean values of the four-question items to represent their corresponding core independent variables in the model validation phase. ...
Under the dual structure of urban and rural lands, revitalizing rural idle homesteads is an effective measure for reducing resource waste and improving the efficiency of rural land use. Therefore, the intention of farmers, as the primary decision-makers in revitalizing rural idle homesteads, is the key to the success of revitalizing idle homesteads. With an analytical framework based on the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study used multiple linear regressions to analyze the survey data (N = 680). The results showed that attitude toward the behavior (AB), subjective norms (SN), and perceived behavioral control (PBC) had significant positive effects on the farmers’ intention to revitalize, with SN, PBC, and AB in descending order of influence. It confirmed that the TPB applies to the study of farmers’ intention to revitalize idle homesteads in the context of China. In addition, this study focused on the social phenomenon of farmer differentiation, which is prominent in the urbanization process. It emphasizes the moderating effect of farmer differentiation on the relationships of “attitude toward the behavior–intention to revitalize,” “subjective norm–intention to revitalize,” and “perceived behavioral control–intention to revitalize,” and further improves TPB. The present empirical study using hierarchical regression found that the deeper the differentiation of farmers, the stronger the effective influence of AB, SN, and PBC on farmers’ intention to revitalize idle homesteads. Therefore, it is suggested that the Chinese government should enhance farmers’ intention to revitalize by cultivating a positive attitude toward the behavior, strengthening the positive influence of subjective norms on farmers, and enhancing farmers perceived behavioral control. Furthermore, it is more important to pay full attention to the phenomenon of farmer differentiation and design a revitalization policy according to the differences in sensitivity of different types of farmers to attitudes toward the behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control.
... In the disciplines of psychology, management, and sociology, as well as the arenas of political participation and environmental protection, among others, researchers have used the TPB model to predict and explore the causal factors of different human behaviors in several approaches (Cooper et al., 2016), such as technological application (Rai et al., 2002), voluntary participation (Dawkins and Frass, 2005), examination of intention and entrepreneurial behavior (Kautonen et al., 2013), environmental conservation (Wauters et al., 2010), exercise of behaviors (Ickes and Sharma, 2012), and sleep patterning (Knowlden et al., 2012). At the same time, the TPB model has also been deployed to a possibly holistic extent within the field of studies on education. ...
Referring to the theory of planned behavior (TPB), this study intends to investigate the impact of students’ mathematical attitude determinants (i.e., attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control) on intentions, behavioral engagement, and mathematical performance. The data collected online in China’s context and the research hypotheses are developed and then tested through structural equation modeling. It is found that attitude and subjective norms have effects, directly or indirectly, on intentions, behavioral engagement, and mathematical performance. In addition, the intentions have a significant effect on behavioral engagement, and behavioral engagement does likewise on mathematical performance. It has also been accepted that perceived behavioral control is not directly related to intentions but largely to behavior and indirectly to mathematical performance through behavior alone. In conclusion, this study’s findings will contribute to the current literature on mathematical performance and will also inform the policymakers of the proposal on students’ mathematics belief and attitude interventions as a means to improving students’ mathematical performance.
... The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) was used as the theoretical framework for the research ( Ajzen, 1991 ). This theoretical framework has been used in previous socio-psychological research to determine the reasoning behind a farmer's willingness to adopt specific practices such as pig farming ( Wauters et al., 2010 ;Alarcon et al ., 2014 ), organic farming ( Garforth et al., 2013 ), implementing a nutrient management plan ( Daxini et al., 2019 ) and alley cropping ( Beer and Theuvsen, 2019 ). The TPB is an extension of the Theory of Reasoned Action which was first published by Ajzen and Fishbein (1975) . ...
Due to the intensification of agriculture and transition to monoculture plantations, vast areas of native woodland have been lost from the Irish landscape. As these trees gradually vanished from agricultural land, the use of traditional, ancient agroforestry practices dwindled. Currently, forestry cover in Ireland is 25% lower than the European average, with the rate of afforestation remaining critically low. Agroforestry has been cited as a means to increase forestry cover in Ireland while continuing to produce viable high quality agricultural products on the same parcel of land. However, even with a range of afforestation schemes available, farmers exhibit an evident reluctance to adopt agroforestry. This research aimed to examine the main attitudes and perceptions of Irish dairy and drystock farmers to planting trees on their land and adopting agroforestry practices. The majority of farmers included within the dataset exhibited a positive attitude towards trees on their farms, with the main negative behavioural beliefs relating to impacts on pasture. Family and Teagasc (The Irish Agriculture and Food Development Authority) are the highest cited influential bodies while the majority of farmers exhibit high perceived behavioural control. Intention rates to plant trees are high, albeit mainly on marginal areas of the farm. Agroforestry knowledge is low in Ireland with the word itself eliciting negative responses among the farming community. The results provide a comprehensive understanding of the main attitudes, influential bodies and barriers that affect agroforestry uptake in Ireland.
... The TAM claims two elements influence how people feel about and adopt new technology (Davis, 1989). Many studies integrate TAM and TPB in agriculture sector for the development of farmers' intentions toward adoption of green technologies (see, e.g., Wauters et al., 2010;Pierpaoli et al., 2013;Menozzi et al., 2015;Caffaro et al., 2020). This study also utilizes the basis of these theories to support the green innovative intentions and green technology adoption behaviors of farmers. ...
Grain for Green Project (GGP) is one of China’s important ecological restoration projects. The key rationale of this Program is to decrease soil erosion and develop ecological conditions. The agricultural sector is putting efforts to promote green innovation and production among farmers to achieve the targets of ecological restoration projects. However, farmers’ green values could play a constructive role in building green innovative intention and green technology adoption behaviors. Based on the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), the present study investigates the association between farmers’ green values and green technology adoption behavior. For empirical investigation, the current study assumes that farmers’ green values positively correlate with green innovative intention and green technology adoption behavior, respectively. Further, this study proposes that green innovative intention positively impacts green technology adoption behavior. The present study also aims to determine the mediating role of green innovative intention in the relationship between farmer green values and green technology adoption behavior. This study also attempts to check the moderating role of health consciousness in the relationship between farmer green values and green innovative intention and the relationship between farmer green values and green technology adoption behavior, respectively. For empirical analyses, the present study gathered data from303 farmers in China through a structured questionnaire method using a convenient sampling technique. The present study applied partial least square structural equation modeling for empirically examining hypotheses using Smart PLS software. The findings confirmed that farmers’ green values have a positive association with green innovative intention and green technology adoption behavior, respectively. The results further verified that green innovative intention positively correlates with green technology adoption behavior. The finding also authenticated that green innovative intention positively mediates the relationship between farmers’ green values and green technology adoption behavior. The moderating role of health consciousness in the relationship between farmers’ green values and green innovative intention is also confirmed by the results of this study. However, the findings revealed that health consciousness does not moderate the relationship between farmers’ green values and green technology adoption behavior. This study’s findings serve the literature by providing empirical insight on the importance of farmers’ green values for green innovative intention and green technology adoption behavior. Moreover, the findings also have important theoretical and practical implications.
... Perceived difficulty refers to the extent to which a behaviour is perceived as difficult or easy (Wauters et al., 2010). Difficulty is a critical factor in the decision-making process of individuals (Papulova and Gazova, 2016). ...
With the growing importance of the logistics industry and the increasing demand for logistics professionals with a bachelor’s degree qualification, the government and industry in China have long been looking for ways to attract more logistics sub-degree students to pursue higher education. This article aims to provide insights into the factors that determine logistics sub-degree students’ intention to pursue a bachelor’s degree. The study extended the theory of reasoned action (TRA) model to include four variables, namely perceived difficulty, job opportunities, job starting salary and genuine interest. The findings from the study involving 361 logistics sub-degree students from three institutions show that logistics sub-degree students’ decision to pursue a bachelor’s degree is determined by attitude, subjective norm, perceived difficulty, job opportunities, job starting salary and genuine interest. Genuine interest is identified as a new precursor of intention. The findings also show that there is a significant difference between students from different types of programmes. Based on the findings, this article proposes some measures for the relevant parties to motivate and attract logistics sub-degree students to further their study at bachelor’s degree level.
... Several studies had found that PBC was significant in influencing intention (Ataei et al., 2021;Govindharaj et al., 2021;Krishnadas and Renganathan, 2021;Oteng-Peprah et al., 2019;Savari and Gharechaee, 2020;Scalco et al., 2017). However, other studies found that PBC insignificant affecting intention (Tama et al., 2021;Wauters et al., 2010). We argue that farmers' PBC over the adoption of Geographical Indication code of conduct is determined by farmers' PEOU of implementing GIs' code of practices. ...
The paper examined the factors influencing farmer’s willingness to adopt GI (geographical indication) practices in the Indonesian coffee sector from a psycho behavioral perspective. Specifically, the paper examined the psychological factors influencing the willingness of farmers to adopt GI. The study combined (1) the Planned Behavior (TPB) theory and (2) Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as the theoretical framework. The following psycho behavioral factors were constructed and tested: subjective norm (SN), perceived behavioral control (PBC), attitudes toward behavior (ATB), perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived economic benefit (PEB). The study also investigated the effects of sociodemographic factors on these psycho behavioral constructs. The survey was conducted in two geographical indication coffee territories in Indonesia that involved 178 farmers who are perceived as willing to adopt GI practices and procedures. The relationship between constructs was investigated in which structural equation modeling (SEM) was used. The obtain data were analyzed using WarpPLS 7.0. The study finds that attitude toward behavior, perceived behavioral control, and perceived economic benefit, as important factors influencing the willingness to adopt GI practices. The subjective norm did not affect willingness to adopt GI practices. Farmers’ knowledge mainly affected perceived behavioral control and willingness to adopt GI practices and procedures.
... The decision-making process in TPB follows a strategic flow that is explained by three independent latent variables; namely attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavioural control (Ajzen and Madden, 1986). This framework has been used in explaining farmers' different agronomic practices, i.e., agricultural input, namely fertilizer and manure use (Daxini et al., 2019), pollution control and management (Wang et al., 2019), pest management (Despotović et al., 2019;Rezaei et al., 2019), soil conservation methods (Wauters et al., 2010), environmental consciousness and impact (Hoogendoorn et al., 2019), minimum tillage and row planting (Zeweld et al., 2017), and agri-environmental diversification (Sutherland et al., 2016). In addition to explaining farmers' attitudes about smart agriculture, these studies have tested TPB links between components. ...
This article proposes an integrated farming approach, namely environment-smart agriculture (ESA) that determines the climate-resilience potential of a farm. A composite index is formulated including various environment-smart agricultural practices (IEP) that focus on the five most affected target areas of farm environment and climate. The IEP is then validated by analysing the on-farm environmental impact and farmers’ behaviours in the underlying theory of planned behaviour (TPB) framework. The TPB components, attitude and subjective norm are defined by the index of benefits from the ESA, and the index of experienced climate change conditions respectively, while perceived control corresponds to the index of constraints in adopting ESA and farm-specific agro-economic and socio-economic attributes. The empirical testing employed a structural equations model (SEM) to estimate the proposed IEP on a sample of 103 farms in two north-western districts of Bangladesh. Results demonstrate that the adoption of integrated ESA practices mitigates post-harvest environmental problems and helps cope with existing climate change conditions. Therefore, farm-level investment in ESA practices, i.e., the use of corrective, preventive, and local standard measures in an integrated way will contribute to the climate-resilience potential of a farm.
... Some authors attempted to identify so-called perceived social pressure, perceived behavioral control, and attitudes in the framework of the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1991). Examples include the work of Martínez-García et al. (2013), who studied improvements in grassland management, Wauters et al. (2010), who analyzed the adoption of soil erosion control practices, Power et al. (2013), who focused on the determinants of adoption of environmentally oriented behavior, and Menozzi et al. (2015), who devoted their research to participation in sustainability programs. To the best of our knowledge, however, there are no studies in agricultural economics that link perceptual aspects of HC to TCE background. ...
The concept of the nexus of contracts, derived from transaction cost economics (TCE), provides a holistic view of the production entity in agriculture from the perspective of a whole food system. TCE has been criticized, however, because it focuses exclusively on cognitive limitations of rationality that may prevent a transaction from occurring. An extended approach to human capital (HC), which includes so-called hidden HC, can address the doubts raised by the critiques. This study attempts to answer the question of how to shape environmentally sustainable nexus of contracts (SNC) in small-scale farming. The main objective is to assess the relationship between HC, including hidden HC, and a sustainable nexus of contracts under the influence of the European Union’s common agricultural policy (CAP). The proposed SNC comprises operations eco-management, contractual integration (hierarchy), and management of resources (labor, capital) with regard to their intensity. Structural equation modeling (SEM) with simultaneous confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) using ordinal variables was applied. The study is based on surveys performed in 2018 in Poland on a representative sample of 674 small-scale farms. It was hypothesized that the extended notion of HC is decisive for the development of SNC. This hypothesis has been confirmed, revealing the dominant role of training and participation in cultural/social events (which extend the perceptual boundaries of farmers) and indicating an almost negligible role of the length of education.
Consumption of poultry meat, eggs, and other animal-sourced commodities has dramatically risen by almost 86 %, with the demand of indigenous chicken products almost doubling over the past few decades. In Kenya, poultry farmers prefer indigenous chicken (IC) due to their resilience to harsh climatic conditions, high feed conversion rates, delicious end products, ability to scavenge and potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions among other factors. Despite the high demand for poultry and its products, the gap between demand and production remains high. Poultry farmers try to keep pace with the demand by integrating the recommended improved IC breeds into their production system. Although there exists some understanding on the determinants of the farmers to adopt improved IC, still there is scanty information on how socio-psychological factors influence the intention to adoption improved IC among the farmers in Kenya. Thus, this study sought to investigate the determinants of intention to adopt improved IC while specially focusing on the role of socio-psychological factors. A total of 374 IC farmers in Machakos county were selected using a multistage sampling technique. Partial Least Square - Structural Equation Modelling (PLS-SEM) was employed to analyze the data. Results from descriptive statistics showed that approximately 90 % of IC farmers in the study area were aware of the improved indigenous chicken breeds. However, the adoption of the improved IC was below average (44.9 %). The path analysis results revealed that Subjective Norm (SN) was the main determinant of farmer's intention to adopt improved IC breeds, followed by Attitude (ATT) and Perceived Behavioral Control (PBC). The study recommends more emphasis to be given to psycho-social issues through well designed public and private interventions that will promote adoption of improved breeds among IC farmers.
Agricultural intensification and landscape homogenisation are major drivers of biodiversity loss in European agricultural landscapes. Improvements require changes in farming practices, but empirical evidence on farmers’ motivations underlying their on-farm biodiversity management remains fragmented. To date, there is no aggregated overview of behavioural determinants that influence European farmers’ decisions to implement biodiversity-friendly farming practices. This study aims to fill this knowledge gap by conducting a systematic literature review of 150 empirical studies published between 2000 and 2022. We identified 108 potential determinants of farmers’ behaviour, which were integrated into a multilevel framework. The results show that the farmers’ decisions are complex and often non-directional processes, shaped by numerous external (at a society, landscape, community, and farm level) and internal factors. These factors are embedded in regional and cultural contexts. However, the analysis of study sites indicates that the spatial coverage of scientific evidence on biodiversity-friendly farming measures is uneven across Europe. Given the diversity of local and socio-cultural conditions, there is a need for public policies, including the European Union’s Common Agricultural Policy, to address more specifically determinants encouraging biodiversity-friendly farm management. This entails reflecting culture-specific perspectives and incorporating experiential knowledge into multilevel policy design processes, as well as offering regionally adapted advice on measure implementation and biodiversity impacts.
Under the pro-environmental principles of agricultural production, soil cultivation and organic fertilization are of particular importance as strategical elements in reducing weed infestation in the context of sustainable agriculture. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of long-term practices that are used in regenerative agriculture (reducing soil tillage, cover crop management, and mineral nitrogen fertilization) on canopy weed infestation and the elements of spring barley architecture. Understanding the impact of the studied factors influences decision-making regarding weed infestation control, and thus may contribute to a reduction in herbicide use. A two-factor field experiment was conducted using the split-plot method. The main factors were four cultivation methods: 1. conventional tillage without a cover crop, 2. conventional tillage + cover crop, 3. reduced tillage + cover crop, and 4. no tillage + cover crop. The subplot factor was differentiated via nitrogen fertilization, at 40, 80, or 120 kg N∙ha−1. The research covered canopy weed infestation and the parameters of spring barley canopy architecture. The species composition; the number and weight of weeds; and, for barley, the leaf area index (LAI), density, length, and tillers were determined. The test results were statistically analyzed (ANOVA) in a series of experiments while using Tukey’s test for a significance level of p = 0.05. Additionally, simple linear regression analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), and data clustering (CA) were utilized. The study showed that simplified tillage contributed to reducing the number of weeds in the barley tillering stage, while also contributing to an increase in weed infestation during grain harvest. Plowing in the cover crop did not reduce the presence of undesirable plants in the canopy, while increasing doses of nitrogen fertilization contributed to a reduction in the number of weeds without affecting their mass. Weed infestation was also affected by meteorological conditions. Increased rainfall in the early stages of barley development benefits the number of weeds, especially in terms of traditional cultivation. Simplified tillage resulted in a reduction in barley density, height, and LAI, as well as an increase in the branching of the tested cereal. A significant negative correlation was also found between the weed infestation of the barley canopy and the characteristics of the canopy architecture. The PCA showed that the highest tillering of barley was provided at the lowest intensity of weed infestation. In turn, the CA indicated that the significantly higher LAI that resulted from a higher density and length of barley was attributed to the simplified cultivation treatments and the practice of direct sowing. It is a comprehensive method that can favor barley growth and development conditions while weakening weed infestation potential.
Despite the benefits of sustainable innovations in the agricultural sector being widely recognized, their adoption rate remains below the level designated by the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. To understand the reasons behind this phenomenon, the current systematic literature review (SLR) provides a comprehensive overview of factors affecting farmers’ innovation adoption behavior in developed countries. A total of 44 studies, published since 2010, were identified, analyzed, and summarized. The analysis revealed that specific innovation characteristics foster the innovation adoption process, together with individual psychological and socio-demographic features. It emerged that the path to adopting sustainable innovations can be driven by environmental values; for example, when comparing organic and conventional farming, organic farmers have a stronger environmental view and are more likely to take less into account economic gains. On the contrary, complexity of innovation, a high degree of innovation aversion, and a low perceived control over innovation are among the core barriers to the innovation adoption. Findings provide important insights on potential research avenues that could further depict farmers’ adoption dynamics of sustainable innovations.
Fish-protection screens for water pumps and channels can conserve fish populations and deliver operational benefits to irrigators. However, the uptake of fish screens is mixed, and there is limited evidence concerning irrigator attitudes towards this technology. The current study addresses this knowledge deficit through 26 semi-structured in-depth interviews with irrigators and other associated water users. The purpose of this study was to understand pump screening practices and experiences, the current level of awareness of fish-screening options, attitudes towards potential environmental and financial benefits, overall intentions to install fish screens, the role of attitudes and other factors in impacting these intentions, and critical fish screening knowledge gaps and communication preferences. Drawing on the theoretical framework of Diffusion of Innovations (DOI), the study identified that irrigators have low awareness of native fish loss and the benefits of fish screening. However, they are interested in learning more about the economic, social, and environmental benefits of fish screen adoption. Customised communications and education programs are needed to increase intentions to install fish screens in Australia.
The role of socio‐psychological factors on farmers' institutional credit adoption intention is rarely studied in the context of developing nations. This study estimates the direct and mediating association of various socio‐psychological factors with farmers' institutional credit adoption intention. An extended theory of planned behavior (TPB) was adopted and empirically tested using the cross‐sectional data from 384 farmers from West Bengal. The study used structural equation model for the mediation analysis. Results showed that primary TPB constructs like attitude, subjective norm, and perceived behavioral control were positively and significantly associated with the intention of institutional credit adoption. Besides direct effect, the primary TPB constructs mediated the relationship between institutional credit adoption intention and other explanatory constructs used in this study. Findings predicted a positive partial mediation between trusted information sources, formal education level, coping appraisal, risk perception, and farmers' formal credit borrowing intention. Risk perception displayed a direct and mediated, however, negative, association with farmers' institutional credit adoption intention. These findings provide a clear understanding of factors predicting farmers' intention to adopt institutional credit and comprehensive insight into establishing policies for effective institutional lending at the ground level. The study delivers a paramount scientific perspective to the policymaker of developing countries suffering from insufficient institutional credit penetration in the farming community to design practicable frameworks and incentivize policies to motivate farmers in institutional credit borrowing.
Rural development and its vital role in the development and advancement of countries, especially developing countries, depends on the development of human resources. For this reason, the priority of the growth and development of human resources over other aspects of rural development is undeniable. In today's world, it will be impossible to achieve the development goals without using the huge reserve of women. In this regard, today's development thinkers, who have a tendency towards a systemic view - as a holistic school, have proposed the presence of women in all dimensions as half of the potentially active human force and the possibility of sustainable rural development in order to determine the patterns of rural development. without the participation of this half-forgotten, they do not see it as practical. In other words, the development of human resources is considered a key factor and a necessary precondition for achieving sustainable rural development. For this reason, according to the current situation of the world, it can be said that sustainable development in our villages is possible when women become the owners of income and financial resources along with involvement and participation in the affairs and social issues of their society. This study, which has been prepared by the method of library study and using internet resources, tries to examine the role and place of women in sustainable rural development and investigate the issues related to the leadership and empowerment of rural women.
Does eco-efficient mean sustainable? A holistic definition of sustainable agriculture implies a trade-off between satisfying human food needs, being profitable and preserving the natural environment. This chapter focuses on how the socioeconomic and environmental dimensions of sustainability can be integrated into approaches, such as eco-efficiency. Special attention is paid to the problem of trade-offs between different aspects of sustainability and practical ways to compute an integrated efficiency score considering the impact of uncontrollable variables. The authors review methods for measuring eco-efficiency, including environmentally adjusted production efficiency, the frontier eco-efficiency model, the materials balance principle approach, exergy allocative efficiency, life cycle assessment and green efficiency. Finally, there is a comprehensive classification of workable approaches to integrate economic, social and environmental dimensions within sustainability.
Research dealing with various aspects of* the theory of planned behavior (Ajzen, 1985,
1987) is reviewed, and some unresolved issues are discussed. In broad terms, the theory is
found to be well supported by empirical evidence. Intentions to perform behaviors of different
kinds can be predicted with high accuracy from attitudes toward the behavior, subjective
norms, and perceived behavioral control; and these intentions, together with perceptions of
behavioral control, account for considerable variance in actual behavior. Attitudes, subjective
norms, and perceived behavioral control are shown to be related to appropriate sets of salient
behavioral, normative, and control beliefs about the behavior, but the exact nature of these
relations is still uncertain. Expectancy value formulations are found to be only partly
successful in dealing with these relations. Optimal rescaling of expectancy and value
measures is offered as a means of dealing with measurement limitations. Finally, inclusion of
past behavior in the prediction equation is shown to provide a means of testing the theory*s
sufficiency, another issue that remains unresolved. The limited available evidence concerning
this question shows that the theory is predicting behavior quite well in comparison to the
ceiling imposed by behavioral reliability.
Intentions to perform most behaviors are more controlled by attitudes than by subjective norms. Yet subjective norms typically account for a significant, albeit small, proportion of unique variance in intentions. To explore the hypothesis that this effect can be explained largely by individual differences in the degree to which some people are apt to be more under normative control, subjects were asked to indicate their intentions, attitudes, and subjective norms toward performing 30 behaviors. Between-subjects and within-subjects analyses were performed. The within-subjects analyses revealed important differences in whether subjects are under attitudinal or normative control across the behaviors. Further, when "normatively controlled" subjects were excluded from the sample, the significant effects of subjective norms on intentions that were obtained in previous between-subjects analyses were eliminated, and the attitudinal effects were augmented. Finally, this individual difference was associated with the strength of the collective self;
Communicative and compliance behaviors of subjects working in three-person groups were predicted. Consistent with Fishbein's modified version of Dulany's theory of propositional control, subjects' intentions to perform these behaviors correlated highly with their attitudes toward the behaviors and with their normative beliefs about the behaviors, multiplied by their motivation to comply with the norms. Behavioral intentions correlated significantly with behavior, although intervening events were found to attenuate the intention-behavior relation. Measuring intentions after these intervening events had occurred, or taking the intervening events into account, was shown to improve behavioral prediction. These findings were compared with prediction of behavior from traditional attitude measures.
IntroductionFunctions of Soils and the Threat of Soil ErosionThe Physical and Shifting Human Geography of Europe as a Basis to Understanding Major Soil Erosion Processes and Controlling FactorsIs Soil Erosion a New Problem in Europe?Overview of Major Soil Erosion Processes, their Spatial Extent, Major Controlling Factors and ConsequencesConclusions
AcknowledgementsReferences
It has been argued that the land-use restrictions prescribed by the Endangered Species Act have failed to protect endangered species on private land. Hence, there has been a call for using incentives to complement this regulatory approach. This paper ...
Provides a unique and comprehensive assessment of soil erosion throughout Europe, an important aspect to control and manage if landscapes are to be sustained for the future. Written in two parts, Soil Erosion in Europe primarily focuses on current issues, area specific soil erosion rates, on and off-site impacts, government responses, soil conservation measures, and soil erosion risk maps. The first part overviews the erosion processes and the problems encountered within each European country, whilst the second section takes a cross-cutting theme approach. Based on an EU-funded project that has been running for four years with erosion scientists from 19 countries Reviews contemporary erosion processes and rates on arable and rangeland in Europe Looks at current issues, such as socio-economic drivers, controlling factors specific to the country and changes in land use
Despite some limitations, Cronbach's coefficient alpha remains the most widely used measure of scale reliability. The purpose of this article was to empirically document the magnitudes of alpha coefficients obtained in behavioral research, compare these obtained values with guidelines and recommendations set forth by individuals such as Nunnally (1967, 1978), and provide insights into research design characteristics that may influence the size of coefficient alpha. Average reported alpha coefficients ranged from .70 for values and beliefs to .82 for job satisfaction. With few exceptions, there were no substantive relationships between the magnitude of coefficient alpha and the research design characteristics investigated. Copyright 1994 by the University of Chicago.
In a transect survey of crop residue levels in 1995 and 1996, two Minnesota counties had very different percentages of cropland with desired residue cover even though the soil types were similar. To gain a better understanding of the reasons behind this difference, the farmers in these two counties were surveyed about their use or lack of use of conservation tillage practices. A statistical logit analysis of survey responses showed farmers are more apt to adopt conservation tillage if they are larger; are more concerned about erosion on their land; have made a recent major investment in the farm; use other producers for tillage information; have the management skill for conservation tillage; and believe conservation tillage will fit with their production goals and the physical setting of their farm. Two counterintuitive findings are the negative effects of the ease of finding information and the degree of control of the adoption decision. The costs and labor requirements of conservation tillage were important but not as statistically significant as those factors just listed. Some variables, that are often listed as potentially important factors, were not found to be important in this survey. These included the long-term viability of the farm; the age, education, and experience of the farmer; the debt level of the farm; whether a family member wanted to continue farming; the proportion of land rented; the use of other sources for tillage information; the complexity of conservation tillage practices; the producer's planning horizon; the risk of negative returns; the availability of support for conservation tillage systems; and the quality of conservation tillage information.
Data were collected from 1,011 land owner-operators within watersheds in three Midwest states to assess factors affecting adoption of soil and water conservation production systems at the farm-level. A theoretical perspective was developed from selected components of Social Learning Theory and the farm structure model and was used to formulate study hypotheses. A composite index was computed from responses to frequency of use of 18 farm production practices and was used to assess conservation adoption behaviors of study respondents. Descriptive and multivariate statistics were used to examine the merits of the research expectations. Study findings revealed that the theoretical perspective had limited utility for predicting adoption behaviors in the three watersheds.
The effect of socio-economic factors on soil conservation has been well recognized, but no attempt appears to have been made to use these factors in a predictive function for soil conservation intention. This paper attempts to do this by deriving a linear discriminant function of intention towards soil conservation based on five socio-economic variables: farm size; perception of soil erosion importance; double cropping practice; declining income; and education level. These variables, easily measured in field surveys, were shown to be the effective 5 out of 31 variables measured in a survey of 178 farmers in the Darling Downs region of Australia. The results of the stepwise solution of the linear discriminant function are discussed in terms of their meaning for soil conservation planning. Use of the function in soil conservation planning and extension are considered.-Author
Data were collected from a sample of 1305 farm owner/operators in the Scioto River watershed of Ohio to examine the use of conventional and conservation farming practices. The theoretical perspective used to guide the study was developed from selected components of diffusion and the farm structure models. The findings revealed that the theoretical perspective had limited utility for predicting use of farming practices employed at the farm level. The magnitude of explained variance in most of the statistical models suggests that alternative theoretical explanations must be explored in future research focused on adoption of farming practices. -Authors
We proposed a hypothesis that not only can people be under attitudinal or normative control across a large number of behaviors (Trafimow & Finlay, 1996), but behaviors can be under attitudinal or normative control across a large number of people. Further, both types of findings can be obtained using the same sets of people and behaviors. To test the hypothesis, a large number of participants were asked to indicate their attitudes, subjective norms, and intentions towards performing 30 behaviors. On the basis of within-participants multiple regression analyses, participants were deemed to be generally under attitudinal or normative control across the 30 behaviors. In addition, consistent with previous research (Trafimow & Finlay, 1996), the unique variance in intentions accounted for by attitudes and subjective norms was highly dependent upon whether attitudinally or normatively controlled participants were used. Finally, however, attitudes accounted for more variance in intentions than did subjective norms for some behaviors, even when normatively controlled participants were analyzed! Thus, the hypothesis was strongly supported.
Research into farmers’ attitudes and motivations in the past has tended to be subjective and theoretically rather imprecise. This paper presents findings from research based on the structured social-psychology model, the Theory of Planned Behaviour, into farmers’ conservation-related behaviour. Responses from a survey of 100 Bedfordshire farmers were analysed to identify the underlying determinants of behaviour and to comprehend farmers’ attitudes. Farmers with greater environmental awareness, members of the Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group, are more influenced by conservation-related concerns and less by farm management concerns than other farmers. They appear also to be more influenced by farming and conservation referent groups, grants and conservation advice.
Conservation behavior is influenced by the attitudes of farmers and by context variables, like income and farm terrain. Important
attitudes were selected by using the theory that fundamental value ranks or weights affect attitudes and that only certain
values are important to the conservation decision. An extension of the tobit estimation approach, handling both censored observations
of the dependent variable and measurement error for the nonlimit observations, was used. Conservation behavior models can
be improved with a merger of concepts and approaches from social psychology and economics.
Full-owner operators and landowners with small holdings have lower minimum tillage adoption rates on cultivated cropland than
do other landownership groups after accounting for land quality and regional location. Nonfamily corporate structure does
not significantly influence the adoption decision. These conclusions about minimum tillage adoption were obtained from a logit
model using 7,649 cultivated cropland observations from across the United States. This study indicates that small operating
size poses more of an obstacle to minimum tillage adoption than does separation of ownership from farm operation.
First, examines different organizational structures to determine if there are differences in average erosion rates among them, and second, reexamines traditional hypotheses about landownership and soil erosion from a broader perspective than previous studies. If significant differences can be identified among landownership groups this information could be used to develop and implement more effective conservation policies.-from Author
Although economists have long argued that the primary motivator of farmer soil conservation behavior is money, income alone was not found statistically significant in this study. Using a Fishbein model of the attitude-behavior relationship modified with an income variable, income was both significant and had a moderating effect on the influence of conservation attitudes. Stronger conservation attitudes and higher income increased the probability of more soil conservation behavior by Florida Panhandle farmers in 1983 and 1984. Farmers with higher incomes, however, tended to have weaker attitudes toward conservation action. The “comfortable life” value, which leads to more income, was apparently being traded off against the “world of beauty” and “being responsible” values, which were associated with conservation action.
Flooding, and in particular muddy floods resulting from erosion of agricultural land, is of growing concern to decision makers and the public in western Europe and is frequently blamed on agricultural land use. Two surveys were therefore undertaken in the Walloon Region of Belgium, one among all municipalities to assess the extent of flooding, and one among 1500 farmers in the silt-loam and sandy-loam agricultural regions to evaluate the extent of runoff and erosion problems on-farm and what, if any, control measures are currently implemented by farmers. Twenty-seven percent of the municipalities in Wallonia have been confronted with floods at least once every 2 years over the last decade. For the silt-loam and sandy-loam regions specifically, 68% of the municipalities have had to deal with at least one flooding event directly attributed to agricultural runoff during the last 10 years. Runoff or erosion was observed at least once every other year on average by 26% of the farmers during the last decade. The occurrence of erosion was positively correlated to the area of row crops and negatively correlated to winter cereals. On average, 74% of the farmers are taking active measures to control erosion but farmers with erosion problems are more likely to take measures. Farmers with a higher level of education are also more likely to implement erosion control measures (ECMs) than less educated farmers. It appears therefore that greater efforts need to be expended on awareness raising among less educated farmers and towards the development, testing and demonstration of additional ECMs if flooding problems are to be reduced in the future. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
IntroductionGlobal Phosphorus CycleTransport Mechanisms and PathwaysAvailability of PFate of P in Freshwater and Brackish–Marine WatersIs Erosion Control What We Need to Control P Loss and Eutrophication?References
The writer is indebted to the following colleagues for helpful suggestions and comments on an earlier version of this paper: Roger Barker, L. B. Kornreich, Eugene Levitt, and Lawrence Linn. Thanks are also due to Anthony Fazio and James Green who supplied unpublished studies for review, and to Dean Bolton and Douglas Simpson for library work. Locating relevant references was facilitated by Deutscher's bibliography (1966a). This research was supported by a grant from the Graduate School of the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and National Institute of Mental Health Grant 1 R03 MH-15798-01. Portions of this paper were presented at the Western Psychological Association Convention, Vancouver, B.C., June 20, 1969.
We examined whether nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) export was enhanced from grassland receiving inorganic fertilizer and manures typical of intensive livestock production. Buffer strips were included in the study to determine if they could reduce nutrient export. Hillslope plots receiving granular inorganic fertilizer, liquid cattle slurry and solid cattle manure (FYM) were compared using rainfall simulation for 4 storms on consecutive days at 22 mm h ‐1 and 35 minutes duration. The plots were hydrologically isolated in a randomized block layout of 4 treatments × 3 replicates and measured 30 × 5m; the upper 20m received either fertilizer, slurry or FYM, while the lower 10 m acted as an unfertilized grass buffer strip. Nitrogen and P export in surface runoff from grassland receiving inorganic fertilizer exceeded that from FYM or slurry treatments; concentrations up to46mgN1‐ ‐1 and 15 mgP1 –1 were recorded.
Sixty eight % and 62% of the N from FYM and slurry respectively, was exported in organic form. Seventy four % (FYM) and 39% (slurry) of the P was in particulate or dissolved organic form. The buffer strip reduced N export in surface runoff by 94% and P export by 98% from inorganic fertilizer plots. A 75% reduction in N export was recorded from the buffer zone below slurry plots but only a 10% reduction in P, with most P remaining in the particulate or dissolved organic fraction. There was no significant difference in N export from the buffer zone between the inorganic fertilizer treatment and the untreated control.
IntroductionSedimentation Rates in European Reservoirs and PondsComputing Sediment Yield from Reservoir Sedimentation RatesSpatial Variability of Sediment Yield in Europe Based on Reservoir Sedimentation DataImpact of Reservoirs and Ponds on Total Sediment Yield at the European ScaleAcknowledgementsReferences
IntroductionRecognition of Muddy Flooding in EuropeThe Character of Muddy Floods: Size, Frequency, Density: Some Regional ComparisonsCauses of Muddy FloodsImpacts and Costs of Muddy FloodingPrevention of Muddy FloodingConclusion
References
This paper argues that the possible shift towards conservation-oriented attitudes of farmers through agri-environmental scheme participation should be seen as a key indicator for assessing the ‘effectiveness’ of agri-environmental policy. Through the analysis of two agri-environmental schemes in the UK, the ESA and Countryside Stewardship schemes, the study suggests that schemes attract different types of farmers and have different results with regard to shifting farmers' attitudes towards conservation. The paper concludes that there is little evidence yet that the ESA scheme is contributing to changes in farmers' attitudes towards conservation, largely because the scheme is aimed at maintenance rather than change. The Countryside Stewardship scheme, meanwhile, generally enrols more conservation-oriented farmers and also shows greater potential for shifting farmers' attitudes, mainly because it is aimed at enhancement of wildlife habitats which often require farmers to change farm management practices. Results indicate that future policies should put more emphasis on scheme monitoring and farmer environmental education in order to help move farmers along the conservation spectrum. In the ESA scheme, management agreement tiers that require more substantial changes to farm management practices towards conservation-oriented farming should be made compulsory in order to ensure that farmers are not only ‘reacting’ to schemes, but that also help farmers re-think their environmental management practices. The Countryside Stewardship scheme should be further expanded because of its appeal to conservation-oriented farmers and the resulting potential for sustainable environmental conservation of the countryside.
The Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) has received considerable attention in the literature. The present study is a quantitative integration and review of that research. From a database of 185 independent studies published up to the end of 1997, the TPB accounted for 27% and 39% of the variance in behaviour and intention, respectively. The perceived behavioural control (PBC) construct accounted for significant amounts of variance in intention and behaviour, independent of theory of reasoned action variables. When behaviour measures were self-reports, the TPB accounted for 11% more of the variance in behaviour than when behaviour measures were objective or observed (R2s = .31 and .21, respectively). Attitude, subjective norm and PBC account for significantly more of the variance in individuals' desires than intentions or self-predictions, but intentions and self-predictions were better predictors of behaviour. The subjective norm construct is generally found to be a weak predictor of intentions. This is partly attributable to a combination of poor measurement and the need for expansion of the normative component. The discussion focuses on ways in which current TPB research can be taken forward in the light of the present review.
There continues to be a question as to the overall effectiveness of conservation tillage practices in reducing the impact
of agricultural production on the environment. While it is generally recognized that water runoff and soil erosion will decline
further, as tillage and mulch tillage systems are not used more extensively on cropland, what will happen to pesticide and
fertilizer use remains uncertain. To gain some insight into this, the conservation tillage adoption decision is modelled.
On the assumption that the decision to adopt conservation tillage is a two-step procedure, the first decision is whether or
not to adopt a conservation tillage production system and the second concerns the extent to which conservation tillage should
be used – appropriate models of the Cragg and Heckman (dominance) type are estimated. Based on farm-level data on corn production
in the United States for 1987, the profile of a farm on which conservation tillage was adopted is that the cropland had above-average
slope and experienced above-average rainfall, the farm was a cash grain enterprise, and it had an above-average expenditure
on pesticides and a below-average expenditure on fuel and custom pesticide applications. Additionally, for a farm adopting
a no-tillage production practice, an above-average expenditure was made on fertilizer.
A general formula (α) of which a special case is the Kuder-Richardson coefficient of equivalence is shown to be the mean of
all split-half coefficients resulting from different splittings of a test. α is therefore an estimate of the correlation between
two random samples of items from a universe of items like those in the test. α is found to be an appropriate index of equivalence
and, except for very short tests, of the first-factor concentration in the test. Tests divisible into distinct subtests should
be so divided before using the formula. The index
[`(r)]ij\bar r_{ij}
, derived from α, is shown to be an index of inter-item homogeneity. Comparison is made to the Guttman and Loevinger approaches.
Parallel split coefficients are shown to be unnecessary for tests of common types. In designing tests, maximum interpretability
of scores is obtained by increasing the first-factor concentration in any separately-scored subtest and avoiding substantial
group-factor clusters within a subtest. Scalability is not a requisite.
Voluntary agri-environmental schemes based on management agreements characterise much agri-environmental policy across the EU at present, and have expanded following the implementation of Regulation 2078/92 in all member states. Schemes generally motivate individual farmers to contract with government agencies to produce countryside goods in return for compensatory payments. Hence, farmers’ decisions to participate are central to achieving policy objectives. An enhanced understanding of farmers’ attitudes to and perceptions of schemes and their implementation would be of value for policy development. Recent transactions-cost research has observed that such schemes involve potentially heavy transactions costs, for both the state and farmers. In addition to reducing scheme cost-effectiveness, the transactions costs incurred by farmers can form a significant constraint on participation in schemes, with adverse effects on the supply of conservation goods. This paper considers behavioural and transactional perspectives on scheme participation. Some new data on the transactional burdens experienced by farmers when participating in schemes is examined from the perspective of identifying ways to improve policy transacting to ease constraints on participation where these exist. At the level of the individual participant, the development of agri-environmental one-stop-shops in member states for all schemes would allow transactions-cost economies, saving on the overhead costs of applying to different schemes with different objectives, as well as allowing a more integrated, less confused approach to participation. The longer-term value of farmer networks and capacity-building for agri-environmental management is important too.
Financial incentives available to farmers under the Government's relaunched agri-environmental policy (AEP) promise to recruit more farmers into conservation schemes than ever before. The success of these voluntary schemes, which offer payments in return for farmers agreeing to desist from certain damaging operations or carry out environmentally sensitive ones, is widely proclaimed, chiefly with reference to the promising levels of enrolment that have already been achieved under the Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESA) programme. Increasingly, however, attention is focusing on the environmental benefits that are being achieved on the ground and their longer-term durability. This paper reports on a survey of 101 farmers in South East England conducted with a view to investigating the level of engagement of those currently enrolled in such schemes. Focusing on the motivational aspects, it points to wide variations in the level of commitment and sympathy with the wider objectives of AEP schemes and places farmers on a participation spectrum ranging from the most resistant non-adopters at one end to the most active adopters at the other. The policy implications of this categorisation are explored and recommendations made for pushing more farmers towards