For this research example, I found an article that explored a research question similar to my own. In “Factors in organic farmers’ decision making: Diversity, challenge, and obstacles,” from volume 14 of American Journal of Alternative Agriculture, Leslie A. Duram poses the question: “Who are the farmers who specifically decide to adopt organic methods, which are outside the practices used by most of the agricultural community?” (Duram, 2). Duram conducts a multiple-layered study in which she strives to understand the characteristics of organic farmers as well as the ways their decisions are made and influenced.
After giving a brief description of what sets organic farming apart from other forms of agriculture, Duram describes her methods of data collection. Duram sent a mail survey to 49 organic farmers, receiving 26 responses. In addition to the surveys, she conducted in-depth interviews with five farmers. She utilized qualitative analysis and qualitative data techniques to analyze the responses she received from her sample. Duram found that the reason many farmers decided to become organic was because they were excited about taking on a new challenge as organic farming requires many modifications and changes to their land, lifestyle, and knowledge.
This study was similar to my own proposal because Duram crated a list of eight factors in decision making. These included “diversity, challenge, change, businesslike approach, no formal agricultural education, love of the land, anti-‘radical environmentalist,’ and obstacles” (Duram, 2). She uses these eight factors in her survey just as I would use my seven categories of challenges in a survey for my own research project. I felt that there was a lot going on in this article and that it would have been more beneficial to focus on only one aspect of organic farming.
Duram, Leslie. 1999. “Factors in organic farmers’ decision making: Diversity, challenge, and obstacles.” American Journal of Alternative Agriculture14(1). Retrieved March 29, 2018. http://opensiuc.lib.siu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1016&=&context=gers_pubs&=&sei-redir=1&referer=https%253A%252F%252Fscholar.google.com%252Fscholar%253Fhl%253Den%2526as_sdt%253D0%25252C5%2526q%253Dchallenges%252Bfarmers%252Band%252Branchers%252Bface%2526btnG%253D%2526oq%253Dcha#search=%22challenges%20farmers%20ranchers%20face%22