Title: A SCALE TO MEASURE THE PERCEPTION OF FARMERS ABOUT CLIMATE CHANGE

Authors: K. R. Khunt, N. B. Jadav and H. M. Movaliya

Publisher: The President, Society of Extension Education Gujarat

Keywords: perception, climate change, standardize scale, reliability, validity

Volume: 41

Issue: 1

Year: June 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56572/gjoee.2026.41.1.0015

Abstract: Perception is a process through which an individual becomes aware of objects and of events taking place around him. To develop and standardize a scale to measure farmers' perception of climate change and its impact on agriculture. The scale was developed using Likert's Summated Ratings method, following a rigorous process to ensure its validity and reliability. Initially, 80 items were gathered from various sources, including literature and expert consultations, and out of total, 60 statements were selected as non-ambiguous. These statements underwent a relevancy test with 50 experts, resulting in the selection of 30 items based on their relevancy percentage, mean relevancy weightage, and mean relevancy score. Further item analysis was conducted by administering these 30 statements to 30 farmers, segregating them into high and low perception groups. Using a t-test, 28 statements with 1.75 t-value were selected for the final scale. The scale's reliability was confirmed with a split-half method, yielding a reliability coefficient of 0.59. Content validity was verified through expert discussions. The final scale, consisting of 28 statements, assesses the perception of farmers on various climate change aspects such as crop productivity, weather patterns and adaptation strategies. It provides a valuable tool for understanding farmers' views on climate change, guiding agricultural policy and extension services aimed at improving climate resilience.