At the 2022 Association for International Agricultural and Extension Conference, members of the University of Georgia Lamm Lab presented their research on education and extension from an international perspective. With multiple oral abstract presentations one poster presentation, the team was excited to share the results of multiple research projects with a diverse global audience. Below are the details of each presentation and poster.
Utilizing a Community Capitals Framework to Evaluate a Community-Based Intervention: Application of the CD+SI Toolkit
Authors: Catherine E. Sanders, Nekeisha L. Randall, Alexa J. Lamm, & Kevan W. Lamm
Sanders presented results from a mixed method study using the CD+SI Toolkit looking at community capitals (or resources) available to enhance community development efforts. The mixed method approach allowed the researchers to identify any gaps in perceptions of various capitals described by community members. A major finding was that social capital, or the connections between members of the community, is one of the strongest assets within the rural community studied. The CD+SI Toolkit can be used to leverage existing capitals within a community (social, cultural, human, political, natural, financial, or built) for community transformation.
Body-Mapping as a Pedagogical Technique for Identity Articulation within an International Agricultural Development Course
Authors: Catherine E. Sanders, Allison R. Fortner, & Alexa J. Lamm
Sanders presented research conducted with co-authors Allison Fortner and Dr. Alexa Lamm about using body-mapping as a teaching technique for international agricultural development courses. Sanders’ research integrates concepts of identity, and she wanted a technique to translate this content for the classroom. Body mapping is a visual methodology where students draw themselves, or their conceptualization of identity, in response to prompts. Students also select images or icons to include within their drawing, to help symbolize aspects of their identity. Overall, the body-mapping technique helped students articulate their sociocultural identity, a necessary skill for increasing intercultural competence.
Poetic Transcription for Identity Exploration: Engaging Arts-Based Analyses for Community-Based Program Evaluation
Authors: Catherine E. Sanders & Alexa J. Lamm
Sanders, with help from co-author Dr. Alexa Lamm, presented research detailing how to use poetic transcription, an arts-based method, within community-based program evaluation. Sanders outlined the methodology and shared some poems she created through interview transcripts as part of data collection for Healthier Together Georgia. Poetic transcription is a way to highlight researcher engagement within the data and participants, as well as showcase the voices of participants in a novel manner. Sanders received a Distinguished Research Presentation Award at the AIAEE 2022 conference for her work.
Exploring International Graduate Students’ Knowledge Levels and Interest in State-of-the-Art Research Tools and Collaboration
Authors: Millicent A. Oyugi, Mathew Baker, Agnes O. Oywaya, Kristin E. Gibson, Alexa J. Lamm
Dr. Millicent Oyugi, in collaboration with Kristin Gibson and Dr. Alexa Lamm and several partners at Texas A&M University, shared a virtual presentation exploring international graduate students’ interest in using the latest research tools available. The study determined research knowledge level and interest in psychophysiology measurement tools among graduate students from sub-Saharan Africa – Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Ethiopia. The findings revealed that students’ ability to participate effectively in the thesis and dissertation research phases was limited due to average to below-average knowledge in most research methods, statistical content areas, and technical writing. The results found there is an interest, but even more so the need to collaborate with those who have access to state-of-the-art research tools to ensure research conducted in the developing world is as applicable as possible.
Advantages and Foundational Issues Associated with Using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) in International Agricultural Education Research
Authors: Kristin E. Gibson, Millicent A. Oyugi, & Alexa J. Lamm
Kristin Gibson’s first virtual paper presentation at AIAEE was coauthored by Dr. Millicent Oyugi and Dr. Alexa Lamm. The study identified the advantages and measurement issues associated with using SEM in international agricultural education research by conducting a thorough analysis of the literature and applying it to the international agricultural education research context.
Overcoming Wicked Problems in International Agriculture through Team Science: Identifying the Characteristics of a High Performing, Interdisciplinary Team
Authors: Kristin E. Gibson, Millicent A. Oyugi, Alexa J. Lamm, & Janine Sherrier
Gibson’s second AIAEE virtual paper presentation was coauthored with Dr. Millicent Oyugi, Dr. Alexa Lamm, and Dr. Janine Sherrier. The study examined how interdisciplinary teams can be high performing in a real-life setting to inform the development of high functioning international interdisciplinary teams within an agricultural context.
Exploring the Influence of International Scholars on Social Media Engagement across Platforms
Authors: Allison R. Fortner, Catherine E. Sanders, & Alexa J. Lamm
Fortner, along with co-authors Katie Sanders and Dr. Alexa Lamm, presented a poster exploring if the presence of international scholars in Instagram and Twitter posts influences engagement rate on University of Georgia social media. Fortner and Sanders took turns sharing the research methods and exploratory findings with conference attendees who were eager to discuss why the engagement rates were higher for international scholars on Instagram but higher for domestic scholars on Twitter. Fortner received a Distinguished Research Poster Award at the AIAEE 2022 Conference for her work.
Sanders and Fortner Receive Student Scholarships for 2022 AIAEE Conference
To finance their in-person attendance at the conference, Katie Sanders and Allison Fortner were each awarded an AIAEE Student Scholarship. Thanks to the generosity of the AIAEE membership, Fortner and Sanders were able to meet with fellow students and faculty from across the globe to share their research.
