SOCIOCULTURAL DETERMINANTS OF THE USE AND TRANSFER OF SCIENTIFIC-INFORMATION BY AGRICULTURAL SCIENTISTS IN SOUTH EASTERN NIGERIA

The objective of the study presented here was to determine the socio-c ultural factors that enhanced the use and transfer of scientific infor mation among agricultural scientists in south eastern Nigeria. The imp lications of some of these factors for agricultural development are hi ghlighted. Structured questionnaires were distributed to a stratified random sample of 300 scientists. Two hundred and ten (210) questionnai res were mailed while 90 were self-administered. Two hundred and forty -five (81.6%) usable responses were received and analysed. Data were a lso generated from interviews with selected members of the stratified random sample. Analyses focused on social and cultural factors of (1) motivation, (2) computer appreciation, (3) choice of media for researc h communication, (4) recipients of research communications, and (5) sc ientists' activities considered for assessment and reward. Frequency c ounts were the presentation techniques used to elucidate results. Resu lts showed that scientists were motivated more in the use and transfer of scientific information by social factors of self-development (53.3 %) and job security (12.9%) than by social factors of scientific probl em solution (19.6%) and intellectual contribution (12.6%). Cultural fa ctors of development in information technology (36.8%), adequate and r elevant information resources (12.6%) and previous information attitud es (24.5%) also influenced scientists. Although five types of recipien t groups of research communications were identified, the study noted t hat there was a disproportionately inadequate diffusion of research co mmunications to two important groups of ''national planners'' and ''ex ternal aid bodies'', who plan and finance agricultural development. On ly 5% of scientists sent research communications to national planners and only 3.7% of scientists sent research communications to external a id bodies. Strategies for assessing other quantifiable elements of pro ductivity by scientists outside journal publications and for diffusing adequate scientific information to national planners and external aid bodies are deemed necessary. (C) 1995 Academic Press Limited