CHAPTER III METHODOLOGY
3.6 Measurement of independent variables
In order to conduct the study in accordance with the objectives, it was necessary to measure the selected variables. The selected characteristics of the farmers constituted the variables of the study. To keep the research manageable, seven experimental variables were selected for the study. The procedures of measurement of the selected variables were as follows:
3.6.1 Age
The age of individual is one of the important factors pertaining to his personality make up which can play an important role in his/her adoption behavior. The age of respondent farmers was measured by counting the actual years from his/her birth to the time of interview on the basis of his/her statement. It was measured in terms of actual years. No fraction of year was considered. A score of one (1) was assigned for each year of age. Age was placed in item no. 1 of the interview schedule (Appendix-I).
3.6.2 Education
Education was measured in terms of grades of formal education (school/college) completed by an individual. It was expressed in terms of years of successful schooling. A score of one (1) was assigned for each year of schooling completed (item no. 2, Appendix-I). For example, if the respondent passed the S.S.C.
examination, his/her education score was given as 10, if he/she passes the final examination of class seven, his/her education score was given as 7. If the respondent did not know how to read and write, his/her education score was given as „0‟ (zero). A score of 0.5 (half) was given to that respondent who could sign his/her name only.
3.6.3 Annual family income
Annual family income of a respondent was measure in thousand („000‟) taka on the basis of his/her total yearly earnings from agriculture and other sources in which the respondent was involved. The price of the other enterprises (i.e., Livestock: cows, goats, poultry, fish etc.) was also added to the earnings.
Earnings of each respondent from different sources (like service, business and labor) were also included in calculating the income. Yearly earnings from farming
and other sources were also added together to obtain total income of a respondent. A score of one (1) was given for each one thousand taka. This variable appears in item number three (3) in the interview schedule as presented in Appendix-I.
3.6.4 ICT ownership
ICT ownership of individual is one of the important factors. Ownership can play an important role on the use of ICT. The ICT ownership of a respondent farmer was measured by determining the possession over the required devices as self, shared access and no access of three selected ICT devices like:
i. Cell phone ii. Internet and
iii. Computer/laptop/tab/other communication device
Scores of 2,1 and 0 were assigned to self, shared access and no access respectively for each device. Thus, the ICT ownership score ranged from 0-6, where „0‟ indicated no ownership of ICT and „6‟ indicated highest ownership of ICT.
3.6.5 ICT using experience
ICT using experience of individual is one of the important factors. Experience can play an important role on the use of ICT. The ICT using experience of a respondent farmer was measured by counting the actual years of his/her use of the ICT devices at the time of interview on the basis of his/her statement. It was measured in terms of actual years. No fractional year was considered for the study. For example, if farmers had 5 years ICT using experience, he /she get 05 score as per year score is 1. This variable appears in item number five (5) in the interview schedule as presented in Appendix-I.
3.6.6 ICT using confidence
ICT using confidence is referred to the level of expertise of ICTs material (10 utilities of ICT materials) used by the farmers. It was expressed in score. The confidence scoring system for each item was done in the following manner:
Confidence Level Score
Highly confident 3
Fairly confident 2
Little confident 1
Not at all confident 0
This variable appears in item number six (6) in the interview schedule as presented in Appendix-I. The score for ICT using confidence were determined by adding all the scores obtained from all the items. Thus, the score of ICT using confidence could range from 0-30, where „0‟ indicates no confidence and
„30‟ indicates highest confidence of ICT use.
3.6.7 Use of ICT
Use of ICT is referred to the frequency of ICT materials (7 items of ICT) used by the farmers. It was expressed in score. The usages of ICTs scoring system for each item was done in the following manner:
Extend of use Score
Frequently 4
Often 3
Occasionally 2
Rarely 1
Not at all 0
This variable appears in item number seven (7) in the interview schedule as presented in Appendix-I. The score for use of ICTs were determined by adding all the scores obtained from all the items. Thus, the score of the use of ICTs could range from 0-28, where „0‟ indicates no use and „28‟ indicates highest use of ICTs.
3.7 Measurement of effectiveness of AICC for disseminating agricultural information
The effectiveness of Agricultural Information and Communication Center (AICC) for disseminating agricultural information to the farmers was the main focus or dependent variable of the study. On the basis of this main aspect, the researcher obtained knowledge by visiting the study area, discussing with the farmers and local leaders at the time of collecting data. Besides, the researcher discussed with the Agriculture Extension Officer, Sub Assistant Agriculture Officer (SAAO) and other related persons of the respective study area. The effectiveness of Agricultural Information and Communication Center (AICC) for disseminating agricultural information to the farmers was measured on the basis of 12 common perception items. Each farmer indicated the extent of his/her perception on the effectiveness of Agricultural Information and Communication Center (AICC) for disseminating agricultural information by checking any one of the following four alternative responses.
These were highly effective, moderate effective, low effective and not at all effective. Scores were assigned in the following manner as used by Ahsan(2020):
Extent of effectiveness Score assigned
Highly effective 3
Medium effective 2
Low effective 1
Not at all effective 0
The scores for responses against all the 12 items were added together to obtain one's perception on the effectiveness of AICC for disseminating agricultural information. Therefore, effectiveness score of the respondents could range from 0 to 36, where 0 indicates lowest level of effectiveness and 36 indicates highest level of effectiveness of AICC for disseminating agricultural information. An Effectiveness Index (EI) was computed for each effectiveness item by using the formulae:
EI= fh×3+fm×2+fl×1+fn×0 Where, EI= Effectiveness Index fh = Frequency of respondents perceived high effectiveness fm= Frequency of respondents perceived moderate
effectiveness
fl= Frequency of respondents perceived low effectiveness fn= Frequency of respondents perceived not at all effectiveness
Effectiveness Index (EI) for each effectiveness could range from 0 to 270, where
„0‟ indicating lowest effective and „270‟ indicating highest effectiveness of Agricultural Information and Communication Center (AICC) for disseminating agricultural information.
Standardized Effectiveness Index (SEI) was also prepared for each effectiveness item by using the following formulae:
SEI =
EI of the item
× 100 Highest possible EI (i.e,270)
Thus, the SEI of the items could range from 0-100, where „0‟ indicating not at all effective and „100‟ indicates highest effectiveness of AICC for disseminating agricultural information. Based on the descending order of SEI, rank order was made to compare the effectiveness of items.