Empirical models of farmer behaviour using psychological, social and economic variables. Part II: Nonlinear and expert modelling

E J Austin, J Willock, I J Deary, G J Gibson, J B Dent, G Edwards-Jones, O Morgan, R Grieve, A Sutherland

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract / Description of output

In this paper the application of nonlinear and expert modelling approaches to social science data are discussed and illustrated with examples from the Edinburgh Survey of Decision-Making on Farms. In general it is found that nonlinear models do not give appreciably enhanced goodness-of-Jit compared to linear models. The reasons for this, and the relatively poor fit found for an expert model are discussed; it is pointed out that the strength of nonlinear and expert models is more likely to be associated with the understanding derived from them than from goodness-of-fit. Some general conclusions about the success of the survey and the models obtained from the data are discussed and proposals for possible new approaches to surveys of farmers put forward.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)225-241
Number of pages17
JournalAgricultural systems
Volume58
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 1998

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • DECISION-MAKING
  • LINEAR-MODELS

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