GREENE, DONALD MILLER; PHD
THE UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA; 1979
GEOGRAPHY (0366)
In order to increase our understanding of the American farming community, this
study explores the
cause, spread, and impact of the American Agriculture Movement. The causes of
the American
Agriculture Movement are introduced with a comparison toward earlier farmer
movements. The spread of
the American Agriculture Movement is shown in two map series, revealing diffusion
of the local strike
office through the United States and the pattern of individual farmer adoption
within Oklahoma. Finally, a
survey instrument administered to Oklahoma adopters of the American Agriculture
Movement provides
information concerning time of adoption, farmer commitment, and future impacts
of the farmers' strike.
Extensive analysis is conducted on time of adoption, farmer commitment, and
future impacts, with the
theoretical context of this analysis derived from current geographic diffusion
theory. Cross tabulation
analysis, a process specifically designed to handle discrete variable responses,
is used to determine the
relative association between variables. Survey analysis conducted on time of
adoption reveals close
agreement with the literature; such that spatial temporal influences and communication
inputs are
strongly related to time of adoption of the American Agriculture Movement. In
similar manner, the
commitment expressed by farmers toward the strike is most strongly influenced
by communication and
spatial/temporal measures. However, the final objective of this analysis, to
determine variables which
influence future impacts of the strike innovation, is not supported by geographic
diffusion theory.
Instead, the present analysis reveals that the future impacts of the farmers'
strike is determined by
biographical factors, financial considerations, and farm resources. Hence, the
overall contribution of this
study is based upon two points: an analysis of the rural diffusion of a social
innovation, and the future
impact of that innovation on the farming community.
Social
Systems Simulation Group
P.O. Box 6904 San Diego, CA 92166-0904 Roland Werner, Principal Phone/FAX (619) 660-1603 |