































   Advancements in Agricultural Development 
  Volume 5, Issue 2, 2024 
  agdevresearch.org 

 

1. T. Grady Roberts, University of Florida, 220 Rolfs Hall, PO Box 110540, Gainesville, FL 32611 groberts@ufl.edu,  

 https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7618-78502. 
 

1 

 

Innovating Methods of Agricultural Development Research 
and Practice 

 
T. G. Roberts1 

 
 

Article History 
Received: January 3, 2024 
Accepted: January 3, 2024 
Published: January 31, 2024 
 
 
Keywords 
Sustainable Development Goals; 
research methods; development 
practice 
  

Abstract 
As we race towards 2030, the target date for achieving the U.N. 
Sustainable Development Goals, it is critical that we examine our 
approaches to agricultural development research and practice. We 
should not expect extraordinary results by using the approaches we have 
always used. Rather, we must innovate. To that end, Advancements in 
Agricultural Development held a Symposium on Methods of Agricultural 
Development Research and Practice in October 2023 on the University of 
Reading campus, co-hosted by the School of Agriculture, Policy and 
Development. We invited recognized experts from around the world to 
develop papers focused on innovative methods of agricultural 
development practice or innovative methods of agricultural development 
research. We had ten papers presented that were authored by 26 
researchers representing 13 universities/research institutes in 6 
countries. Sixteen authors attended the symposium to present their 
papers. A healthy dialogue followed each presentation to help authors 
refine their papers, resulting in the articles published in this special issue. 
A summary of each article is provided. 

mailto:groberts@ufl.edu
https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7618-78502


Roberts  Advancements in Agricultural Development 
 

https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.461   2 
 

Introduction 
 
As we race towards 2030, the target date for achieving the U.N. Sustainable Development 
Goals, it is critical that we examine our approaches to agricultural development research and 
practice. We should not expect extraordinary results by using the approaches we have always 
used. Rather, we must innovate. To that end, Advancements in Agricultural Development held a 
Symposium on Methods of Agricultural Development Research and Practice in October 2023 on 
the University of Reading campus, co-hosted by the School of Agriculture, Policy and 
Development. We invited recognized experts from around the world to develop papers focused 
on innovative methods of agricultural development practice or innovative methods of 
agricultural development research. We had ten papers presented that were authored by 26 
researchers representing 13 universities/research institutes in six countries. Sixteen authors 
attended the symposium to present their papers. A healthy dialogue followed each 
presentation to help authors refine their papers, resulting in the articles published in this 
special issue. A summary of each article is provided below. 

Methods of Agricultural Development Practice 
 
Girado et al. (2024) shared an innovative approach for participatory climate services called 
Participatory Integrated Climate Services for Agriculture (PICSA). Using data from a case study 
in Honduras, they outlined a series of steps that can be tailored to meet individual farmers' 
needs. They highlight the strengths and limitations of their approach and discuss how it can be 
applied in other contexts.  

Rodriguez et al. (2024) outlined a participatory approach for gender analyses. Citing work they 
conducted in Honduras, this team of researchers contrasts their transformative approach to the 
typical extractive approaches used by many gender researchers. They show how their approach 
integrates critical perspectives, participatory methods, and systems thinking. They discuss how 
development practitioners can apply their methodology in other settings.  

Gorman and Kinsella (2024) shared an innovative approach for preparing agricultural 
development practitioners in Ireland. They described their approach to determining the 
necessary competencies and then building a graduate degree program based on those 
competencies, the Masters in Agricultural Innovation Support (MAIS). They share data showing 
the efficacy of their approach and discuss how their model may be applicable in other contexts. 

Greig et al. (2024) described how virtual reality technologies can be used by educators in 
agricultural development efforts. They outlined a Virtual Reality Facilitation, Application, 
Reflection, and Measurement (VRFARM) process that holistically addresses the teaching and 
learning process. Their model describes the educator’s role in facilitating learning, how this 
model can be applied, and how learning can be assessed. They close the article with 
recommendations for how educators and development practitioners can use their model. 

 

https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.461


Roberts  Advancements in Agricultural Development 
 

https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.461   3 
 

Chowdhury et al. (2024) conducted a scoping review to find solutions to address 
misinformation in agrifood systems. Their findings revealed the value of participatory 
approaches across many sectors. They concluded that Farmer Field Schools are a valuable, 
participatory tool for combatting misinformation. They close by proposing a handful of 
unanswered questions that agricultural development researchers should address. 

Methods of Agricultural Development Research 
 
Narine and Harder (2024) presented an expansion of the Ranked Discrepancy Model, originally 
designed for assessing competency training needs, to enable the analysis of any repeated 
measures needs assessment data. They provide practical tools, including Microsoft Excel 
examples, so agricultural development researchers without access to expensive statistical 
software can easily apply the RDM. Narine and Harder provide a discussion and examples of 
data visualization to improve practitioners’ ability to make decisions with needs assessment 
results. 

Roberts (2024) presented a novel approach to applying Q methodology with marginalized 
populations. In his approach, he shares how using a visual Q methodology can give access, 
power, and voice to people who might otherwise be voiceless due to their inability to read the 
language researchers use. He describes six principles that researchers can apply to implement 
visual Q methodology. He concludes by discussing how this approach can be used with other 
research methods to triangulate results.  

Baker et al. (2024) shared how researchers in agricultural development can use continuous 
response measurement (CRM) systems to assess real-time perceptions of messages. They 
discuss in-person and virtual applications of this methodology in quantitative and qualitative 
research approaches. They also discuss data management and analysis. Baker et al. close by 
offering a variety of ways this can be applied in different contexts. 

Lindner and Lindner (2024) propose a novel approach to interpreting Likert-type scales. They 
begin with a philosophical discussion about the underlying math associated with this kind of 
data. They then argue that researchers should establish ranges and labels for interpreting scale 
means a priori. They also provide an approach for calculating and interpreting nonstandardized 
effect sizes. They close by offering recommendations for how researchers can apply their 
approach. 

Conclusions and Discussion 
 
Several themes emerged from the presentations at the symposium. Participants all echoed the 
value of gathering to discuss topics like this and the willingness of participants to share their 
perspectives. Agricultural development researchers and practitioners should challenge the 
status quo and look for opportunities for innovation. Most authors argued that there is no one-
size-fits-all approach; instead, there should be intentionality in selecting development and 
research methods. Researchers and practitioners should simultaneously consider the macro and 

https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.461


Roberts  Advancements in Agricultural Development 
 

https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.461   4 
 

micro contexts, meaning adaptable methods are more valuable than fixed approaches. All 
authors recognized the importance of participatory approaches and the importance of 
partnerships and teams.  

We hope the methods presented in this special issue give agricultural development researchers 
and practitioners new ideas about how to do their work. We welcome submissions of articles to 
Advancements in Agricultural Development that test or apply the methods in this special issue 
so that we can continually refine our practices. We wish to thank the authors who contributed 
to this special issue.  

References 
 

Baker, L. M., McLeod-Morin, A., & Mattox, A. (2024). All in a moment: Continuous response 
measurement method for analyzing dynamic science communication 
content. Advancements in Agricultural Development, 5(2), 135–151. 
https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.357  

Chowdhury, A., Kabir, K. H., Asafo-Agyei, E. K., & Abdulai, A.-R. (2024). Participatory and 
community-based approach in combating agri-food misinformation: A Scoping 
Review. Advancements in Agricultural Development, 5(2), 81–104. 
https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.349  

Giraldo, D., Clarkson, G., Dorward, P., & Obando, D. (2024). First experiences with participatory 
climate services for farmers in Central America: A case study in 
Honduras. Advancements in Agricultural Development, 5(2), 6–26. 
https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.363 

Gorman, M., & Kinsella, J. (2024). Embedding research and extension in postgraduate studies: A 
novel approach to filling the knowledge exchange competency gap in 
Ireland. Advancements in Agricultural Development, 5(2), 46–63. 
https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.445  

Greig, J. A., Colclasure, B., Rampold, S., Ruth, T., & Granberry, T. (2024). Enhancing agricultural 
education through virtual reality: Facilitation, application, reflection, and measurement 
in the classroom. Advancements in Agricultural Development, 5(2), 64–80. 
https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.353  

Lindner, J. R., & Lindner, N. (2024). Interpreting Likert type, summated, unidimensional, and 
attitudinal scales: I neither agree nor disagree, Likert or not. Advancements in 
Agricultural Development, 5(2), 152–163. https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.351  

Narine, L., & Harder, A. (2024). Analyzing and visualizing repeated-measures needs assessment 
data using the ranked discrepancy model. Advancements in Agricultural 
Development, 5(2), 105–118. https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.321  

https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.461
https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.357
https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.349
https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.363
https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.445
https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.353
https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.351
https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.321


Roberts  Advancements in Agricultural Development 
 

https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.461   5 
 

Roberts, R. Visual Q methodology: A methodological approach to empower marginalized 
populations in agriculture throughout the global south. Advancements in Agricultural 
Development, 5(2), 119–134. https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.359  

Rodriguez, M. T., Williams, R. J., Niewoehner-Green, J. E., & Morales, S. (2024). Integrating 
gender in research and development: A case study of how organizations working in 
Honduras approach participatory gender analyses in agrifood systems. Advancements in 
Agricultural Development, 5(2), 27–45. https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.355  

 
© 2024 by authors. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of 
the Creative Commons Attribution license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). 
 

https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.461
https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.359
https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v5i2.355

