Farmers' perception of the credibility of interpersonal sources of development information

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Date
1979-07
Authors
Ismail, Narimah
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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.
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Keywords
Credibility of interpersonal sources , Development information
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