Identifying the Needs of Opinion Leaders to Encourage Widespread Adoption of Water Conservation and Protection

Autor/inn/en	Taylor, Melissa R.; Lamm, Alexa J.
Titel	Identifying the Needs of Opinion Leaders to Encourage Widespread Adoption of Water Conservation and Protection
Quelle	In: Journal of Agricultural Education, 58 (2017) 4, S.269-281 (13 Seiten) PDF als Volltext (1); PDF als Volltext kostenfreie Datei (2) Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1042-0541
Schlagwörter	Public Opinion; Leadership Responsibility; Social Networks; Agricultural Education; Extension Education; Teacher Role; Influences; State Surveys; Water; Conservation (Environment); Information Dissemination; Behavior; Attitude Measures; Individual Characteristics; Likert Scales; Florida + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Öffentliche Meinung; Social network; Soziales Netzwerk; Agriculture; Education; Landwirtschaftliche Ausbildung; Landwirtschaft; Ausbildung; Erweitertes Bildungsangebot; Lehrerrolle; Influence; Einfluss; Einflussfaktor; Wasser; Conservation; Environment; Konservierung; Bewahung; Umwelt; Informationsverbreitung; Personality characteristic; Personality traits; Persönlichkeitsmerkmal; Likert-Skala
Abstract	Opinion leaders are persuasive in convincing others within their social networks to adopt certain opinions and behaviors. By identifying and using opinion leaders, agricultural educators may be able to leverage individuals who have influence on others' opinions, thereby speeding up the adoption of new practices. In this article, we review a statewide survey to define opinion leaders and understand their current water conservation practices. Additionally, by using the theoretical framework of the diffusion of innovations, we explored what subject matter areas opinion leaders are most interested in, and where they go for more information. These findings will identify how agricultural educators can reach opinion leaders to help disseminate important water conservation information. The findings indicated opinion leaders have a good grasp on how to conserve water, but are still misusing water in terms of protecting its quality. Based on these findings it is suggested that agricultural educators develop educational programming focused on improving opinion leaders' knowledge of water pollution; a connection needs to be made between water quality and the environment. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	American Association for Agricultural Education. P.O. Box 7607, Department of Agricultural and Extension Education, Raleigh, NC 27695. Web site: http://www.aaaeonline.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2020/1/01