Assessing Leadership Development and Social Network Needs of Small-Scale Farmers in Florida.

We will assess the needs of small-scale farmers in Florida through a phenomenological study designed to explore “the nature and states of lived experiences...to determine what something ‘is’ or ‘means’ to a collective body of participants (Saldana & Omasta, 2022, p. 135).” Witkin and Altschuld (1995) define a needs assessment as “a systematic procedure for setting priorities and making decisions about programs and allocations of resources (p. 10).” Typically, needs assessments are conducted using three phases: the pre-assessment, to understand what is already known about the population, problem, and needs; the main assessment, in which data collection occurs; and the post-assessment, in which results and recommendations are communicated to stakeholders and used to implement programming. This project focuses explicitly on the main assessment.    

We will employ a mixed-methods approach, utilizing surveys and focus groups in an explanatory sequential study. 

Sampling 

The population for this study are producers who identify as small-scale farmers in the State of Florida. Convenience and snowball sampling will be utilized for the first phase of data collection (survey distribution). The graduate student will travel to selected farmer’s markets across the state to identify and recruit potential participants. To participate in the study, farmers must self-identify as “small scale” based on their own perceptions. For those populations that are hard-to-reach or difficult to locate, snowball sampling may be used, “in which researchers ask participants to recommend other similar participants to take part in the study in order to discover a larger pool of participants than the researcher originally had access to (Saldana & Omasta, 2022, p. 87).”  For the purpose of this study, those farmers who participate will be asked to recommend additional participants who fit the study criteria. Based on previous studies conducted by the researchers, snowball sampling has been an effective method to reach this population.  

Purposive sampling will be applied during the second phase of data collection (focus groups) to “deliberately select participants because they are most likely to provide insight into the phenomenon being investigated due to their position, experience, and/or identity markers (Saldana & Omasta, 2022, p. 86).” When utilizing purposive sampling, the researcher may know the participants in advance, or they can be recruited (Saldana & Omasta, 2022). Study participants who complete the survey will be asked if they are willing to participate in a focus group. The use of purposive sampling will ensure a diverse range of farmers are represented, as the researcher can select a diverse pool of focus group participants. The graduate student has pre-existing relationships with a network of small-scale farmers in Florida, which she will utilize to identify additional potential study participants. Moreover, we have identified Extension agents, educators, and others who work closely with this population who have confirmed a commitment to identify potential participants.    

Data Collection 

The first phase of data collection will include survey distribution to small-scale farmers to collect demographic information and their specific needs for leadership education and social networks. Funding from the grant will be used to develop the survey instrument and ensure its validity before distribution. This will also allow the study to be replicated, and the instrument to be used by other researchers in different states. Surveys will be disseminated to small-scale producers in Florida in two ways. First, the researcher will travel to farmers markets across the state to make personal connections with producers and invite them to participate in the survey. Second, the survey will be administered electronically via email from Extension Agents, educators and stakeholders who work closely with small-scale producers. IRB approval will be obtained through the University of Florida. The survey will be distributed and managed through Qualtrics management system. 

Distribution of the survey will include: 

• In-person distribution at farmers markets, or other locations where small-scale producers congregate, using iPads and paper copies of survey. 
• Electronic distribution through list-servs and email, provided by those who work with small-scale farmers. 

The second phase of data collection will utilize focus groups. Up to three focus groups will be conducted with small-scale farmers identified from the first phase of data collection. This “group interview method” is an approach to data collection that may “potentially help individual respondents remember things that they might not have alone (Saldana & Omasta, 2022, p. 84).” Focus group sessions will be facilitated by the graduate student. A focus group guide will be created to guide the conversations and ensure consistency and reliability across all focus groups. The sessions will be recorded to ensure participants' input is captured verbatim, and observation notes will be recorded by the researcher. Recordings from the focus groups will be transcribed for accuracy.  

The transcripts and observation notes will be analyzed and coded using In Vivo Coding which “utilizes the participants own language as a symbol system for qualitative data analysis (Saldana & Omasta, 2022, p. 108).” The transcripts will be reviewed and coded by the lead researcher and the PI, who will look for words and phrases that stand out, and their findings will be compared for validity.   

Data Management and Storage 

Data from surveys will be collected and stored using Qualtrics survey, provided through University of Florida. Only those researchers involved in the project will have access to the data. Data from focus groups will be transcribed utilizing transcription software, such as Otter Ai. Any data collected using printed paper will be kept locked in Graduate Student office filing cabinet. Precautions will be taken to maintain participation confidentiality.  

Limitations 

Because this research will be conducted with small-scale farmers throughout the state of Florida, findings may have limited transferability to farmers in other states and regions. Additionally, this population can be difficult to access, so the number of farmers willing to participate may be limited.