Effect of Breeders' Personal and Professional Characteristics on their Attitude toward Application of Participatory Breeding (PB)

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of breeders' personal and professional characteristics on their attitude towards the application of participatory breeding. The design of the study was a survey research one, utilizing a descriptive-correlational method. The statistical population consisted of 95 breeders in Tehran Province (N=95). Through census study, 76 questionnaires were collected and analyzed. The questionnaire was employed as the instrument of data gathering. Face and content validity of the questionnaire was established through a panel of agricultural extension & education faculty members as well as by plant breeding experts. A pilot test was conducted to determine the reliability of the questionnaire. Cronbach’s alpha was estimated around 0.83 through SPSS software version 16. Descriptive findings indicated that 57.9% of breeders' attitude towards use of PB stood at "agree" level. Comparison mean results showed that such characteristics as: Gender, employment status, organizational duty and education course have no effect on the breeders' attitude towards using PB, but type of PB implementation system affected the breeders' attitude. Correlation coefficient results indicated that there existed a significant and positive correlation (p= .01) between breeders' familiarity level regarding PB and their attitude towards an application of PB.

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