I worked with Daniel McGrath on the publication you
mentioned. The process we describe is different from
the traditional focus group in that it is more
participatory. We named it "farmer/scientist focus
sessions." We published an article in the Journal
of Natural Resources and Life Sciences Education in
Fall 1993 (Lev, et al Vol. 22, #2, pages 148-152).
However, we also published essentially the same
version of it as an Oregon State University Extension
Publication that the team prefers (the journal made
us cut some stuff out). Dan is the lead author on
that version, publication #EM 8554 available for free
(up to six copies) from:
Publications Orders
Agricultural Communications
Oregon State University
Admins. Services A422
Corvallis, OR 97331-2119
503/737-2513
You might also be interested in a publication Lorna
Butler (WSU Puyallup, 7612 Pioneer Way, Puyallup,
WA 98731, 206/840-4551) put out on the sondeo
process (a type of rural appraisal).
Another piece that describes the sondeo and a process
for conducting longer-term whole farm case studies is
also available free from OSU entitled: Whole Farm
Case Studies: A how-to manual. Publication #EM 8558
Helene
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Helene Murray
Coordinator and Assistant Professor
Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture
411 Borlaug Hall
University of Minnesota
St. Paul, MN 55108
phone: 612/625-0220
fax: 612/625-1268
email: murra021@maroon.tc.umn.edu
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