Designing and explaining the conceptual model of psychological empowerment from perspectives of Iranian Agricultural Extension Specialists: by using qualitative content analysis

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Department of Agricultural Extension and Education, Faculty of Economics and Agricultural Development, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran

Abstract

Psychological empowerment is one of the interesting topics of human resource management researchers and is one of the important factors for predicting and understanding organizational behavior. This research sought to identify the factors affecting the psychological empowerment of Iranian agricultural extension Specialists and the methodology of qualitative content analysis with conventional content analysis approach. According to necessity, the method of theoretical sampling (interview with managers and Specialists of agricultural extension was 16) and the data were analyzed using MAXQDA12 software. Based on the results of the interviews analysis, A total of 83 initial codes were extracted from the interview, which were formed in four categories including: Individual and personality factors that underlie psychological empowerment (with 5 subcategories), Organizational contexts related to psychological empowerment (with 7 subcategories), Psychological empowerment structures (with 6 subcategories), Environmental factors that underlie psychological empowerment (with 4 subcategories). At the end, there were Suggestions to the psychological empowerment of agricultural extension experts. Results of this study have practical implications for managers, policymakers and human resources planners in the agricultural extension system and academic communities.

Keywords

Extended Abstract

The rapid changes in the environment, the growing trend of global competition and the continuous decrease in the productivity of human resources have forced organizations to search for a way to continue their survival. The field of competition is found in specialized, creative and motivated human resources. In this connection, one of the topics that has attracted the attention of researchers and management thinkers in recent years, especially in service organizations (such as agricultural extension), is psychological empowerment.

Psychological empowerment is mentioned as the most appropriate option in order to increase productivity and organizational development, which can guarantee increased efficiency.

 

 

Objective

The main problem of the present research is what factors help to improve the psychological empowerment of Iran's agricultural extension experts, in other words, what factors make agricultural extension experts, while feeling self-worth and self-efficacy, their capacity and power by aligning their goals They are used with the goals of the organization and strengthening the sense of competence in order to fulfill the mission of the agricultural extension system.

The aim of the current research is to identify the components and factors affecting the psychological ability of agricultural promotion experts in order to provide solutions to improve and improve their psychological ability. The organization can use the potential abilities of experts in order to improve and strengthen the psychological empowerment of the agricultural promotion human force in order to be more productive.

 

Methods

In terms of purpose, the present study is applied and in terms of methodology, it is classified as a qualitative research that uses the content analysis method. The participants of this research consisted of the managers and experts of the agricultural extension and education department with specialization in agricultural extension and education, and 16 of them were selected based on the theoretical saturation criteria and using the purposeful sampling approach and snowball sampling method. The research tool in data collection was semi-structured interview protocol. MAXQDA12 software was used to facilitate the text analysis of the conducted interviews.

 

Results

Based on the results of the interviews analysis, A total of 83 initial codes were extracted from the interview, which were formed in four categories including: Individual and personality factors that underlie psychological empowerment (with 5 subcategories), Organizational contexts related to psychological empowerment (with 7 subcategories), Psychological empowerment structures (with 6 subcategories), Environmental factors that underlie psychological empowerment (with 4 subcategories).  At the end, there were Suggestions to the psychological empowerment of agricultural extension experts.

 

Discussion

According to the results of this study, if agricultural extension wants to provide a platform for empowering agricultural extension experts, it should pay attention to factors such as investing in information and communication technologies, improving the skills and information literacy of extension experts, networking in order to share experiences. In addition, understanding and supporting experts and appreciating their activities and efforts, evaluation based on transparent and clear criteria are among the things that can help psychological empowerment. Communication and interaction with universities, scientific and research centers, organizations related to agriculture and rural areas in order to produce findings needed in production areas and also to receive media support for agricultural extension can also be effective in the psychological empowerment of agricultural extension human resources.

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Iranian Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Research
Volume 54, Issue 1
March 2023
Pages 241-259

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