Develop a Comprehensive Model for Organizing Agricultural Extension with a Chaos Theory Approach

Subject Areas : Agricultural Extension and Education Research

Marziyeh Bordbar ¹ , faezeh hashemi ² , Seyed Mahmood Hosseini ³ , Mohammad Chizari ⁴

1 - Agricultural Extension and Education, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 - Agricultural Extension and Education, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
3 - Agricultural Extension and Education, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
4 - Agricultural Extension and Education, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2020-09-20 Accepted : 2020-09-20 Published : 2020-08-22

Keywords: Strange attractors, Butterfly effect, Self-organizing, Chaos Theory, Agricultural extension,

Abstract :

This survey aimed to study comprehensive model of organizing agricultural extensions with the approach of chaos theory. This is the first attempt on improving agricultural extension in Iran using the chaos theory. The target population was the agricultural specialists of Jihad organizations in Fars province of Iran. 186 agricultural specialists were selected using a whole number method. A questionnaire was developed using fixed - choice questions. The validity of the instrument was established using an expert panel. A pilot study was conducted to determine the reliability of the questionnaire used for the study. The Cronbach’s alpha, Average variance extracted and Composite Reliability were calculated, and all were approved. The statistical analysis applied the structural equation modeling, with SPSS ver.16 and smart PLS software. From the results, the chaos theory together with its indicators explained 37% variance for extension agents, 22% variance for extension and educational activities, 31% variance for management and organizational extension, 21% variance for extension and educational infrastructure, 18% variance for mass media education, 11% variance for extension credit, and 22% variance for extension communications. Obviously, the most explained variances were those for the extension agents and management and organizational extension.

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