Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / ""This thesis aims to develop a better understanding of the adoptive behaviour of grain growers, through identifying socio-economic factors that influence adoption processes, and the identification of farmer typologies based upon a market segmentation approach. This study has established a clear understanding of the behavioural characteristics associated with the target population in terms of adaptive behaviour, production capabilities, information seeking characteristics and innovativeness. This study has clearly identified characteristics of agricultural knowledge systems, including the influence of information providers, the quality and credibility of information, and social influences. This study has identified a range of farming typologies on the basis of the identification of the relationships between the measured characteristics of the target population, using a series of highly robust approaches involving principal component analysis and k-means cluster analysis." -- from Abstract. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1288064 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2007

Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University of Adelaide Library. / ""This thesis aims to develop a better understanding of the adoptive behaviour of grain growers, through identifying socio-economic factors that influence adoption processes, and the identification of farmer typologies based upon a market segmentation approach. This study has established a clear understanding of the behavioural characteristics associated with the target population in terms of adaptive behaviour, production capabilities, information seeking characteristics and innovativeness. This study has clearly identified characteristics of agricultural knowledge systems, including the influence of information providers, the quality and credibility of information, and social influences. This study has identified a range of farming typologies on the basis of the identification of the relationships between the measured characteristics of the target population, using a series of highly robust approaches involving principal component analysis and k-means cluster analysis." -- from Abstract. / http://proxy.library.adelaide.edu.au/login?url= http://library.adelaide.edu.au/cgi-bin/Pwebrecon.cgi?BBID=1288064 / Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, School of Agriculture, Food and Wine, 2007

A system dynamics model is developed to study the technology adoption process (TAP) of modern agriculture input technology such as the biotechnologies. The work shows that the system dynamics approach is appropriate to integrate the different components considered in the TAP conceptual framework elaborated in this work. The conceptual framework illustrates the different system components found important in the literature, portfolio decision-making, learning, information gathering, uncertainties and economics perceptions and their involved relationships. / The model is first calibrated and validated using the case of soybeans adoption versus corn uses in Quebec from 1987 to 1998. Validation is performed through five tests, namely visual, statistical and sensitivity, modularity and extendibility are performed to show the relevancy of the approach. / The model is then applied to the case of four input biotechnology crops. Again three types of validation tests are carried out. Results show that the model predicted the shape of the curve for all application fields.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Columbia University, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 203-226).

No description available.

In recent years there has been a growing literature that advocates various forms of participatory development. This is illustrated by the promotion of approaches/tools such as participatory rural appraisal (PRA), participatory technology development (PTD), and participatory process projects 1 These "new" approaches are fast taking on the form of a new generalised orthodoxy for solving development problems. It would seem from the perspective of some of the promoters of this orthodoxy that the problem of development is no longer one of not having the right approaches and methods, but one of getting recalcitrant policy makers, bureaucrats, academics to appreciate and adopt these new methods and techniques. My concerns with this new advocacy are that: i It does not relate to experience; ii It does not address issues of power structure and control over information and other resources in multiple and complex arenas of science and technology (S&T); iii By placing major emphasis on management approaches and tools, the new orthodoxy is cutting itself off from a critical reflective understanding of the deeper determinants of technical and social change. Unfortunately, I suspect that if this new orthodoxy does not develop a more critical reflective view of itself then, like previous dominant orthodoxies, it will soon have to develop a range of "escape hatches" to explain why these participatory approaches are not giving the results that their advocates promise. / AVOCADO series; v 06/95

The purpose of this study was to determine the linkages that exist among research, extension, education, and farmers (R-E-E-F) and to propose ways of strengthening these linkages. To achieve this goal the following specific objectives provided the basis of this research: 1. To describe the context in which the R-E-E-F linkage exists. 2. To examine the ways that R-E-E-F functions including: - formal and informal linkages, - communication strategies, - feedback mechanisms, and - diffusion of technical information. 3. To determine how administrators view the research, technology-transfer, and farmer linkage. The study was based on Kaimowitz et aI's. (1990) conceptual framework for studying the links between agricultural research and technology transfer in developing countries. This framework looked at "linkage mechanisms" in terms of the organizational procedures used to maintain research-technology transfer links and "contextual factors" i.e., all the factors that affect the use and relevance of linkage mechanisms. / Ph. D.