| The problem addressed in this study dealt with the lack of awareness and utilization of forestry technical and market information among Mississippi nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners. This concern arises from the fact the while the United States Forest Service, universities, private industry, and others spend enormous amounts of time and money on forestry research only a small portion of this research is actually being applied to the bulk of NIPF lands. Mississippi has the opportunity and potential capability to increase its share of the supply of timber products to the region and to the nation.;The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between adoption behavior and sources and types of information. The relationship was examined by testing a series of research hypotheses derived from the general proposition that sources and types of information about new ideas, practices, and innovations enter into the decision-making process regarding their adoption.;A selective review of literature on adoption behavior and sources and types of information was presented. In addition, a selective review of research on NIPF landowners was presented. Based on existing literature the "diffusion of innovations" model was used to examine NIPF owner behavior. The social action theory was established as the appropriate theoretical framework.;Stepwise regression analysis was employed to evaluate the relative explanatory power of the selected independent variables toward forestry practices. Knowledge and use of forestry practices were regressed on the following independent variables: (1) source(s) of information (friends, neighbors, relatives, mass media, specialized media, Mississippi Forestry Commission, Mississippi Cooperative Extensive Service, USDA Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation Service, industrial forester, and private consulting forester); (2) form(s) of contact (home visits, office visits, telephone calls, personal letters, demonstration meeting, leader training, tours, school/training session, miscellaneous meetings, bulletins, leaflets, news stories, radio, t.v., and posters); and (3) forestry programs (The Tree Farm Program, Forest Resource Development Program, Forest Incentive Program, and Mississippi Cost Sharing Program). (Abstract shortened with permission of author.)... |
