Family structure, Finances, Financial well-being, Money, Retirement, Women,

No abstract

No abstract

Traditionally the primary sources of information used by farmers in the decision to adopt new practices were, in descending order of importance, (1) other farmers, (2) local agricultural product dealers, and (3) local government agencies. Mass media sources were relatively unimportant. Six hundred southwestern Iowa farmers were interviewed to determine their sources of conservation information. The top three sources named were (1) farm magazines, (2) other farmers, and (3) the Soil Conservation Service. The two sources of information most consistently related to awareness of erosion problems and use of conservation practices were the Soil Conservation Service and magazines. The importance of magazines provides useful implications for soil conservation programs.

Because research indicates that people’s value orientations significantly affect their opinions about advanced technologies some risk scholars argue that technology policy should reflect the recommendations of experts rather than the opinions of a value-driven public. This suggested approach might be bolstered to the extent that people use substantive (value-driven) rather than formal (reason-driven) rationality when assessing the recommendations of experts. We found evidence that people’s opinions are indeed influenced strongly by their substantive rationality. We nevertheless argue that technology policy formation should rely more rather than less upon public opinions, thereby encouraging further efforts at improving science communication theory and practice.