Farmers' perception of the credibility of interpersonal sources of development information
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Date
1979-07
Authors
Ismail, Narimah
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
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Abstract
This study tried to find out (1) Malaysian farmers' sources
,of development information, (2) characteristics of a credible
extension agent as perceived by farmers, and (3) the interpersonal
sources of development information perceived by farmers as the
most credible. The study also determined the relationships between
the characteristics of farmers such as age, education, contact with
extension agents, mass media exposure, participation in organi~ations
and cosm.opoliteness and their perception of a credible
extension agent, hence, a credible source of information.
The respondents' sources of development information differed
with the type of information sought. Gen~rally, they sought
information from the 'authority' on a particular subject, that is,
the midwives and rural nurses for health and nutrition information;
the extension agents for agricultural information; and the teachers
for information on education. The Penghulu was the most important
source of veterinary information. He was second important source
of most of these different types of development information.
Important sources of a particular type of information were
also perceived as most credible source of that type of information.
Local leaders were largely perceived as credible sources of development
information.
The farmers perceived that a credible extension agent is one
who is first, qualified, second, dynamic, third, safe and last,
sociable. Thus, to be an effective agent of change, the extension
agents should possess the characteristics grouped under these
categories.
Farmers' education, _organizational participation and cosmopoliteness
were significantly related to their perception of a
credible extension agent based on safety, qualification dynamism
and sociability dimensions of credibility. Positive relationship
existed between age, mass media exposure, contact with extension
agent, and perception of a credible extension agent though the
relationships were not significant.
Description
Keywords
Credibility of interpersonal sources , Development information