@conference {40901,
	title = {Farmer groups, a measure of their effectiveness},
	booktitle = {Proceedings of the New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	volume = {57},
	year = {1997},
	month = {Jan},
	pages = {109-111},
	publisher = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	organization = {New Zealand Society of Animal Production},
	abstract = {From 1993 to 1995 changes in sheep and beef cattle farmer learning styles; their beliefs about group interactions and their beliefs about the farm system were measured in three groups located in the upper North Island. The groups were each part of a group farm monitoring programme involving scientists from the Whatawhata Research Centre. Using a survey questionnaire, the study sought to identify ways of improving the delivery of technology to group members. Most group members expressed a preference for logical learning experiences (50\% of those surveyed) followed by problem solving (32\%), action (12.5\%), and social interaction (5.5\%). Belief maps which illustrate group interactions identified problems in group cohesion. Farm system belief maps identified distinct categories of farm system components, viz.: performance related technologies; relatively non-complex technologies; relatively complex technologies. Over time, beliefs about stock policies became more closely related to farm performance indicators such as profit. },
	issn = {1176-5283},
	author = {Webby RW and Paine MS}
}
