EFFECTS OF GROWER PARTICIPATION ON ONION IPM DEMONSTRATIONS

This research asked if growers who participated in demonstrations were different from non-participants, and whether any such differences mak e an impact on demonstration results. We included a non-participant gr oup as a comparison to our demonstration participants. and use a prete st/post-test comparison to assess change which may occur as a result o f the demonstration program in contrast to any pre-existing difference s which might exist. The results suggest growers' attitude toward and adoption IPM prior to participating in the demonstration have impacts on demonstration results. These results highlight the importance of co nsidering growers' prior attitudes toward the innovation in interpreti ng the results of research which is designed to show the effectiveness of the innovation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.