Scale Development and Validation for Farmers’ Knowledge Exchange: Implication for Agricultural Extension in Nigeria

Abstract

The aim of the study was to develop and validate farmers’ knowledge exchange scale. This was accomplished by establishing specific domain for the construct, generating scale items, scale purification, and scale validation. Accordingly, twenty-one knowledge exchange items were initially listed. After being reviewed and revised by experts, it was pruned to 17 items which was used to collect data from 300 farmers in 16 communities within Kwara State, Nigeria. Four emerging constructs of 10- item knowledge exchange scale, including clarity, reliability, usefulness and reciprocity components were identified by performing an exploratory factor analysis. Subsequently, a confirmatory factor analysis was conducted for validating the scale. The results of the model showed good fit with the data (χ2 = 172.87, df = 59, p-value < 0.001, and RMSEA = 0.047). In addition, the scale was found to be highly reliable (with a Cronbach’s alpha value of 0.92). The study concluded that knowledge exchange assessment scale has the capacity to serve as an analytical tool, which can help researchers and extension practitioners assess the quality of information farmers share among themselves.