Evaluating Marketing Channel Options for Small-Scale Fruit and Vegetable Producers: Case Study Evidence from Central New York

An investigation of the relative costs and benefits of marketing channels used by typical small-scale diversified vegetable crop producers is conducted. Using case study evidence from four small farms in Central New York, this study compares the performance of wholesale and direct marketing channels, including how the factors of risk, owner and paid labor, price, lifestyle preferences, and sales volume interact to impact optimal market channel selection. Given the highly perishable nature of the crops grown, along with the risks and potential sales volume of particular channels, a combination of different marketing channels is needed to maximize overall firm performance. Accordingly, a ranking system is developed to summarize the major firm-specific factors across channels and to prioritize those channels with the greatest opportunity for success based on individual firm preferences.Marketing channel, small-scale, fruit and vegetable producers, case study, Agribusiness, Crop Production/Industries, Financial Economics,

Evaluating Marketing Channel Options for Small-Scale Fruit and Vegetable Producers

An investigation of the relative costs and benefits of marketing channels used by typical smallscale diversified vegetable crop producers is conducted. Using case study evidence from four small farms in Central New York, this study compares the performance of wholesale and direct marketing channels, including how the factors of risk, owner and paid labor, price, lifestyle preferences, and sales volume interact to impact optimal market channel selection. Given the highly perishable nature of the crops grown, along with the risks and potential sales volume of particular channels, a combination of different marketing channels is needed to maximize overall firm performance. Accordingly, a ranking system is developed to summarize the major firm-specific factors across channels and to prioritize those channels with the greatest opportunity for success based on individual firm preferences.local food, marketing, wholesale, direct, marketing channels, economic evaluation, Agribusiness, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Crop Production/Industries, Demand and Price Analysis, Production Economics,

A Case for Supplemental Vocabulary Component Development for Textbook-Based English Classes

This quantitative study investigated the necessary elements of a principled vocabulary component that would supplement learners’ textbooks. This study then went on to investigate the receptive vocabulary sizes and textbook target language samples for three intact English communication classes in women’s university in western Tokyo. Using the Vocabulary Size Test（VST）data was collected and participant vocabulary sizes assessed, which were then compared to assigned textbook target language samples run through the Range program. Both the VST and Range utilized the British National Corpus（BNC）as the base-word source. Research questions（RQ）investigated included comparing participant vocabulary size to textbook requirements; whether textbooks implicated gaps in participant /learner vocabulary knowledge; and if any one element of a vocabulary component could best address gaps between participant and textbook vocabulary levels. Indeed, the findings produced evidence regarding the above RQs: discrepancies between participant and textbook vocabulary do exist; the assigned textbook does contribute to gaps in participant/learner vocabulary albeit in a relatively minor role; and, the teaching of affixes would clearly assist in closing the gap between participant vocabulary knowledge and the assigned textbook vocabulary requirements

Serial Killer: Investigating receptive vocabulary acquisition using word cards

Cognitive psychology has played an integral role in the field of human information processing, memory and indeed learning in many areas. For over a century, there has been scientific interest in massed and distributed learning; and what’s more, as light has been shone more intensely, the intricacies of how to maximize the potential benefits of distributed learning have emerged. Today, the value of distributed learning is highly respected as is the voluminous evidence supporting it. As a result, in the discipline of second language acquisition, the use of word cards and spaced repetitions is well entrenched. The light shone on the finer details has also revealed the influence of serial learning on vocabulary acquisition using word cards. This study will attempt to shine more light on this issue and contribute to the discussion by presenting experimental evidence to the question: To what degree does serial learning impact receptive vocabulary acquisition when using word cards

Increasing Reading Speed: Timed versus Repeated-timed Reading

　This confirmatory quantitative pilot study investigated the effect of timed-reading (TR), and comparative treatments of timed-reading versus repeated-timed-reading (RR) on 18 female 2nd-year university students of English as a foreign language. Reading speed and comprehension were measured at four benchmarks: Pre-test, Benchmark 1, Benchmark 2, and a 2 – week Delayed-posttest. Reading speed results show increased reading speed between Pre-test and Benchmark 1, and between Benchmark 1 and 2. Participants in TR (n =9) and RR (n =9) groups read 14 and 7 passages, respectively over a 14-week period. The results suggest continued reading speed development within treatment groupings throughout the 14 weeks but no difference between treatments (starting from Benchmark 2). Delayed-posttest reading speed declines were not significant. Reading comprehension was not impacted by gains in reading speed and there were no differences between treatments. Results reject the null hypothesis: RR will be more efficacious than TR for reading speed gains

Learner Ability Calibration: A Work in Progress

　Calibration is the degree of correspondence between a learner’s perceived ability to successfully complete a task and actual ability demonstrated. Oral presentations　evaluated by explicit criteria were utilized to examine learner ability beliefs assessed by a pretest (learner self-report), then demonstrated and assessed by a post-test (instructor evaluation) based on four criteria. Results suggest learners tended to over-estimate their abilities on eye contact, the use of gestures, and speaking time (length of presentation) with statistical significance, while underestimating their fluency ability though not statistically significant

Treating the Classroom like the Boardroom: An Authoritarian Approach

　This quantitative research study investigated participant actions and attitudes toward developing and maintaining a class binder, out-of-class effort, in-class responsibility requirements, special component and overall class satisfaction in an authoritarian classroom management style. Data was collected via a summative survey of three intact and streamed English communication classes （N = ８０） in a women’s university in western Tokyo. These data were analyzed using SPSS ２２ for determination of normal score distribution and a one-way analysis of variance of group means to ascertain group（ High and Low ability） sameness. Raw scores were converted into measures via Winsteps ３１.８０. for Rasch analysis and interpretation. Results suggest that participant attitudes/responses to items relating to binder / study skills program, responsibility and overall class satisfaction were positive, while attitudes/responses to out-of-class effort and special class components were mixed. Further, results suggest both general similarities and specific differences in attitudes/responses between high and low groupings