Factors Related to the Learning of Participants in the Ohio Pesticide Private Applicators Instructional Program. Summary of Research 77.

A study determined the learning (achievement) of 151 participants in the 1992-93 Ohio pesticide applicator training (PAT) program. It assessed the intended level of cognition of instruction and the actual cognition level achieved by the participants. All participants were pre- and posttested using questions adapted from Hall and Prochaska (1991), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Home Study Course (1980), Ohio PAT program (Bohmont 1990), and information in the core package used by the program. The interview schedule developed by Bhardwaj (1989) was used to collect data that measured the intended level of cognition at which the PAT instructors planned to deliver the program. Findings indicated that the county agricultural agents who participated in the study intended to deliver the program primarily at the remembering (25 percent) and evaluation (21 percent) levels. The participants learned primarily at the remembering level. The following recommendations were made: county extension agents should become familiar with the levels of cognition; the Ohio Cooperative Extension Service should hire candidates who have knowledge of cognition; staff of the Ohio Department of Agriculture should attend workshops on developing tests for higher cognitive levels; and the EPA should include cognitive levels in the PAT program. (Contains 21 references.) (YLB)