Identifying perceptions associated with agricultural chemical use: Implications for pesticide applicator training programs in Illinois
type: CreativeWork
description: A dichotomy was found to exist between how pesticide applicators have perceived issues related to agricultural chemical use and what applicators have believed to be true about perceptions held by the public on similar issues. Stakeholders having rural orientations were perceived to be more inclined to be supportive of the use of chemicals in the production of agricultural commodities than were those having an urban orientation. The results of eight qualitative focus group interviews, comprised of fifty-two private and commercial pesticide applicators and public officials in Illinois were conducted and studied. The analysis was set within a framework of a perception variables model developed by the researcher. The model dealt with source, message, and audience factor independent variables and certain internal mediating processes all associated with attitudinal change. Implications of the findings for pesticide applicator training programs in Illinois were that specific: (a) modifications to the existing program, (b) introductions of new teaching methodologies, (c) expansion of subject matter content areas, and (d) increased opportunities for inclusion of the public sector in program planning will lead to improved programs.
abstract: A dichotomy was found to exist between how pesticide applicators have perceived issues related to agricultural chemical use and what applicators have believed to be true about perceptions held by the public on similar issues. Stakeholders having rural orientations were perceived to be more inclined to be supportive of the use of chemicals in the production of agricultural commodities than were those having an urban orientation. The results of eight qualitative focus group interviews, comprised of fifty-two private and commercial pesticide applicators and public officials in Illinois were conducted and studied. The analysis was set within a framework of a perception variables model developed by the researcher. The model dealt with source, message, and audience factor independent variables and certain internal mediating processes all associated with attitudinal change. Implications of the findings for pesticide applicator training programs in Illinois were that specific: (a) modifications to the existing program, (b) introductions of new teaching methodologies, (c) expansion of subject matter content areas, and (d) increased opportunities for inclusion of the public sector in program planning will lead to improved programs.
author: Thompson, Dennis Ray
language: eng
keywords: Agriculture, Agronomy, Education, Adult and Continuing, Education, Agricultural, Environmental Sciences
date published: 2011-05-07T12:15:54Z
date modified: 2026-07-22T22:25:14Z
provider: University of Illinois - Urbana-Champaign
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

PropertyValue
property ID: Handle
value: http://hdl.handle.net/2142/19704