A Research on Producer Reasons for Participation into Agricultural Fairs

Ever-developing agricultural technologies and progress in communication science increase competition and globalization in converge countries. Agricultural fairs offer ambient to bring producers and input-suppliers of agriculture together at certain places and times. They offer direct and efficient information about new technologies to producers. German Agricultural Society and Leader Farmer Association have jointly organized outdoor fairs in Turkey since 2010. Agriculture Days Fair is one of the most important events among these jointly organized fairs. This study was conducted to determine the reasons for producers’ participation in these fairs held in 2015 and 2017 and to determine the effects of socio-economic characteristics of the producers on their reasons for participation in these fairs. A total of 589 questionnaires were made in this study (250 in May 2015 fair and 339 in August 2017 fair). The same questionnaire forms were used in both years. CHAID analysis technique was employed in analyzing data gathered from the producers. It was observed that producers generally participated in agricultural fairs just for the excursion or spent time with their families at weekends. However, it was also determined that the producers were informed about the agricultural fairs by producer organizations and Leader Farmer Association participated in the fairs to promote a new products or to give information about new technologies and inputs. It can be suggested that beyond informing producers about the fairs, Leader Farmer Association formed within the scope of Leader Farmer Project initiated with the support of German Agricultural Society (DLG) should convey information about how important the fairs are in the acquaintance with introducing new information and technologies.

Predictors of the Level of Knowledge about Sexual Harassment and Assault among College Students: A Chi-Squared Automatic Interaction Detection Analysis

This study aims to determine college students’ levels of knowledge about sexual harassment and assault, and to identify the predictors of this level of knowledge. Participants have been selected using a multi-stage sampling method and consist of 7,302 college students from a state college in Turkey. The age of participants ranged from 17 years to 29 years with a mean age of 21.33 years (SD = 2.04). The Sexual Harassment and Assault Knowledge Test, the Survey of College Students’ Exposure to Sexual Harassment and Assault, and a socio-demographic form were used to obtain data from the sample. The two-steps cluster analysis revealed that 70.2 % of the all participants had moderate level of knowledge about sexual harassment and assault, while 13.6 % had a low level of knowledge and 16.2 % had high level of knowledge. The CHAID analysis indicated that sex was the main predictor of level of knowledge about sexual harassment and assault. Also, exposure to sexual harassment or assault, dating experience, and having gender-equality education were found as other predictor variables. Finally, classification accuracy of the CHAID model was found 79.5 % within the sample.

Color and Marbling as Predictors of Meat Quality Perception of Argentinian Consumers

In Argentina, color and intramuscular fat are the main attributes of raw beef quality; however, it is necessary to clarify how consumers use them, in order to establish different marketing strategies. Consumer preferences are affected by multiple factors. Thus, the objective of the present study was to identify the Argentinian consumer’s choice behavior regarding beef color and fat content. An online survey was carried out in Argentina. It inquired about socio-demographic characteristics, purchase and consumption habits and beliefs, showing pictures related to color, marbling and the amount of fat. Choice behavior was evaluated by asking why consumers chose a particular picture out of the ones shown. Several Kruskal–Wallis tests evaluated the different hypotheses. Three different decision trees using the CHAID analysis method were created. Multifactorial analysis was carried out for clustering consumers. Regarding consumer beliefs, 90% of the respondents agreed with the sentence, “The two main characteristics defining beef quality at purchase time are meat color and marbling”. Socio-demographic characteristics affected purchase habits and beliefs; they also affected perceptions about meat color and marbling. It was possible to build three consumer groups for future marketing strategies: “hedonic” focused on a pleasing sensory experience, “appearance” prioritized the visual aspects, and the “health-conscious” consumers were interested in their healthy nutrition.

Early expressions of psychopathology and risk associated with trans-diagnostic transition to mood and psychotic disorders in adolescents and young adults

Objectives The heterogeneity and comorbidity of major mental disorders presenting in adolescents and young adults has fostered calls for trans-diagnostic research. This study examines early expressions of psychopathology and risk and trans-diagnostic caseness in a community cohort of twins and non-twin siblings. Methods Using data from the Brisbane Longitudinal Twin Study, we estimated median number of self-rated psychiatric symptoms, prevalence of subthreshold syndromes, family history of mood and/or psychotic disorders, and likelihood of subsequent trans-diagnostic caseness (individuals meeting diagnostic criteria for mood and/or psychotic syndromes). Next, we used cross-validated Chi-Square Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) analyses to identify the nature and relative importance of individual self-rated symptoms that predicted trans-diagnostic caseness. We examined the positive and negative predictive values (PPV; NPV) and accuracy of all classifications (Area under the Curve and 95% confidence intervals: AUC; 95% CI). Results Of 1815 participants (Female 1050, 58%; mean age 26.40), more than one in four met caseness criteria for a mood and/or psychotic disorder. Examination of individual factors indicated that the AUC was highest for subthreshold syndromes, followed by family history then self-rated psychiatric symptoms, and that NPV always exceeded PPV for caseness. In contrast, the CHAID analysis (adjusted for age, sex, twin status) generated a classification tree comprising six trans-diagnostic symptoms. Whilst the contribution of two symptoms (need for sleep; physical activity) to the model was more difficult to interpret, CHAID analysis indicated that four self-rated symptoms (sadness; feeling overwhelmed; impaired concentration; paranoia) offered the best discrimination between cases and non-cases. These four symptoms showed different associations with family history status. Conclusions The findings need replication in independent cohorts. However, the use of CHAID might provide a means of identifying specific subsets of trans-diagnostic symptoms representing clinical phenotypes that predict transition to caseness in individuals at risk of onset of major mental disorders.

Predictors of the Level of Knowledge about Sexual Harassment and Assault among College Students: A Chi-Squared Automatic Interaction Detection Analysis

This study aims to determine college students’ levels of knowledge about sexual harassment and assault, and to identify the predictors of this level of knowledge. Participants have been selected using a multi-stage sampling method and consist of 7,302 college students from a state college in Turkey. The age of participants ranged from 17 years to 29 years with a mean age of 21.33 years (SD = 2.04). The Sexual Harassment and Assault Knowledge Test, the Survey of College Students’ Exposure to Sexual Harassment and Assault, and a socio-demographic form were used to obtain data from the sample. The two-steps cluster analysis revealed that 70.2 % of the all participants had moderate level of knowledge about sexual harassment and assault, while 13.6 % had a low level of knowledge and 16.2 % had high level of knowledge. The CHAID analysis indicated that sex was the main predictor of level of knowledge about sexual harassment and assault. Also, exposure to sexual harassment or assault, dating experience, and having gender-equality education were found as other predictor variables. Finally, classification accuracy of the CHAID model was found 79.5 % within the sample.

709 Healthy Sleep as an important resource and buffer for intersectional discrimination: Results from Covid 19 study

Introduction Our previous studies have highlighted sleep disparities for this underserved population, including how Grandparents Raising Grandchildren (GRG) experience troubled and disruptive sleep. Intersectional types of discrimination facing these families during COVID 19, include: race/ethnicity of self and children, income, age, essential workforce status, and impairments (mobility, vision, and hearing). This current study intends to explore how healthy sleep is an important resource (potential buffer) for GRG experiencing intersectional discrimination during COVID 19. Methods We used community partnerships to recruit 600 GRG from all fifty states in USA and several tribes to complete an online survey on their experiences with caregiving and intersectional discrimination during COVID 19. We developed an index on intersectional discrimination based on GRG lived experiences to inform the survey and used descriptive and bivariate statistics to profile this group. Chi-square Automatic Interaction Detector (CHAID) analysis was used to build a predictive model to help determine how variables in our study best merge to explain intersectional discrimination. Results Of the GRGs’, 37% were between 54–65 years and 33% cared for children 6 to 10 years for at least 5 years. The types of discrimination that were more likely to be included in intersectional discrimination include: Black or African American [83.8% (31)], my child’s race [59.5% (22)], my lower economic status [56.8% (21)], and my status as a caregiver [56.8% (21)]. The resource needs that showed the most disparity (higher rate showed higher priority/extreme concern) between those with ID and those without included: Information on how COVID impacts race and ethnicity differently (6.0 vs. 3.61), ability to pay utilities (3.7 vs. 1.99), and information on how to achieve healthy sleep (4.19 vs. 2.64). Conclusion This study suggests that GRG facing intersectional discrimination identify the importance of attaining information on how to achieve healthy sleep as an important resource to them during COVID 19. These results can be used to help mobilize resources and disseminate information for this underserved group to improve healthy sleep and also model for their extended families and communities. Support (if any) This study was conducted by the Grandfamilies Outcome Workgroup, (GrOW), with support from Generations United and Collaborative Solutions.

Visitors' Spending on Accommodation: A Segmentation Model using Two-Step CHAID Analysis

Tourism receipt through visitors' spending is one of the contributors that stimulate the local economy. Therefore, it is crucial to determine the factors influencing these spending preferences. This study determines factors and average spending on accommodations using segmentation techniques for Perhentian Island's visitors. Determinant factors include demographic, trip-related, and psychographic characteristics. Data were collected through a survey and run for 929 visitors using two-step Chi-Square Automatic Interaction Detection (CHAID) analysis. The analysis produces a three-level regression tree and later a classification tree. The findings documented that, level 1 consisted of four segments and were segmented according to the country of origin (COO). Overall, the Italian is a segment that has the highest average spending. The fourth segment of level 1, namely Malaysia, branched out further to level 2 and level 3. These levels were segmented based on the number of dependents during the trip and length of stay, respectively. For domestic visitors, Malaysian with dependents on the trip spend the highest. Based on the results, recommendations for the Perhentian Islands accommodation operator were to provide infrastructure to accommodate families for domestic market and marketing strategy that target Italians for the international market. The results could also assist local authorities outlining tourism planning.

Adolescents with substance abuse problems in outpatient treatment: A one-year prospective follow-up study

Aim: There is a lack of knowledge about how adolescents with substance abuse problems manage after taking part in treatment. It is also difficult to perform traditional follow-up studies with this group. This article presents the outcome of a prospective study of 455 adolescents who underwent outpatient treatment, based on data taken from official registers. It aims to describe and analyse indications of continued use of substance (CUS) and how various risk and protective factors predict outcomes after initiated treatment at a Maria clinic in Sweden. Design: The study is based on structured interviews at intake, and the data that indicated CUS were taken from several different national registers. The analyses included descriptive data and bivariate associations, logistic regressions and a CHAID analysis. Results: Almost two thirds of the adolescents have no indication of CUS at one-year follow-up. The ten studied risk factors independently were weak predictors of CUS and it was instead the accumulation of risk factors that were linked to a negative outcome. Conclusion: The majority of adolescents who start outpatient treatment for substance abuse problems return to a lesser extent in registers that may indicate a continued problem with alcohol and drugs one year later. A concentration of more than five risk factors appears to be associated with a registration. The study also provides an example of an alternative method for following up adolescents with alcohol and drug abuse problems.