Artificial intelligence based computer programmes called Expert System has received a great deal

of attention throughout the world, due to its impressive problem solving capability in a variety of fields.

For the present study, an expert system named as RUBEXS-04 was designed to simulate the pest and

disease diagnosing behaviour

Balasubramani, N

Chandrakandan, K

Swathi Lekshmi, P S

CMFRI Digital Repository

Indian Journal of Extension Education Vol. 42, No.1 &. 2, 2006(100-102) Effectiveness of Expert System on Knowledge Retention N. Balasubramani\ P. S. Swathilekshmi1 and K. Chandrakandan1 ABSTRACT Artificial intelligence based computer programmes called Expert System has received a great deal of attention throughout !he world, due to its impressive problem solving capability in a varielY of fields. For the present srudy, an cxpen system named as RUBEXS-04 was designed to simulate the pest and disease diagnosing behaviour. The RUBEXS-04 thus developed was tested for its relative effectiveness over four other different treatments such as human experts without discussion, human experts with discussion, RUBEXS-04 without discussion and RUBEXS-04 with discussion, using the multiple randomized design. The four treatments were allotted to 12 experimental groups to find out the relative effectiveness of the four selected treatments towards knowledge retention. Higbest mean retention of Jaiowledge was observed when the subjects were exposed to RUBEXS-04 with discussion (Tr"). This was followed by the treatments T.', T~ and Trl . These fOUI treaunents were also found to be s ignificant at one per cent level in respect of mean knowledge retention after 15 days. As agricultural technology is constantly subjected to metamorphosis over years, loday's fanners are swamped wilh many new cultivars, pestic ides and farming techniques. In order to make prudential and accurate decisions, fann managers/extension workers/fanners need speedy access to advices on agricultural problems which should be timely, reliable and consistent. Information and Communication Technology provides instant access to agricultural information. knowledge based computer programmes or expert system containing "expert knowledge" brings significant change in agriculture, in tenns of reduced costs, increased storage, early usage and speedy access. With this background, a study was undertaken with the following objectives: 1. To study the effectiveness of the treatmen~ in tenns of knowledge retention among rubber growers. 2. To propose strategies for designing and using' expert system for effective technology transfer. METHODOLOGY A "Computer based expert system for rubber protection technologies was developed by employing knowledge engineering methodology and software engineering. An exhaustive knowledge base on 44 items on plant protection teChnology of rubber c rop including leaf, stem, root diseases, non microbial maladies and pests were acquired, a nd the documented knowledge was analysed and represented in the fonn of flow chart, which the experts were using to reach a conclusion from specific components in the domain layer. The programming language Visual Basic 6.0 was chosen for designing and developing the Expert System on rubber. This Expert System was named as RUBEXS-04. 1&3Ph.D. Scholars, Dept. of Agril. Extension, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. 2Fonner Professor, Dept of Agril. Extension, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Coimbatore. ~ 1 i ! j j I i ! j I I I 1 I o.j ., .. I , .1 :1 1 I I 1 EFFECTIVENESS OF EXPERT SYSTEM ON KNOWLEDGE RETENTION 101 The service area of Rubber Board Regional Office, Mannarlc..k:ad, Kerala state, fanned the locale of the study. Out of the 60 eltisting rubber producers societies in the service area, three rubber producers societies were randomly selected. From each society 40 rubber growers were selected randomly. Thus a total number of 120 rubber growers fonned the sample for the study. Four different treatments such as human experts without discussion, h uman-experts with discussion, RUBEXS-04 without discussion and RUBEXS-04 with discussion were selected. These treatments were tested for their relative effectiveness using the multiple group-randomized design. Each treatment was replicated thrice:. Considering 10 respondents per replication, there were 30 respondents per treaunenL The 120 respondents fonned the subjects for the four treatments. 'Before-After' technique of measurement was used 10 find out the effect of a particular treaunent. Taking into considerations of all the guidelines 21 knowledge items were selected and administered for assessing the knowledge gain and retention · of knowledge after 15 days. The difference between the rec:all score and the pre-exposure score was taken as retention score of the knowledge gained by the individual respondent Statistical techniques such as simple percentage analysis, paired 't' test, McNemar test and Kruskal Wallis test were used to analyse the data. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Effectiveness of treatments in terms of knowledge retention: Thc results of four treatments with respeCt to knowledge level before exposure and retention of knowledge 15 days after the exposure were analysed by applying 't' test. The results are depicted in Table 1. It could be observed from Table I that the highest mean retention of knowledge score of 4.92 (23.43 percenl) was of subjects exposed to Tr4. This was followed by the treatment Trl, Trl and Trl which had the mean retention scores of 1.86 (8.86 per cent), 1.75 (8.33 per cent) and 0.78 (3.71 per cent) respectively. These four treatments were also found to be significant at one pcr cent level in respect of mean knowledge retention after 15 days. Proportion or information retained and forgotten by subjet":ts of various experimental groups: The retention of knowledge after 15 days of exposure was assessed and those scores were compared with the quantum forgotten. The mean values and percentages are presented in Table 2. It is observed from the Table that the treatment Tr4 (RUBEXS-04 with discussion) had the highest retention of knowledge gained (72.35 percent) followed by treatment nl (65.64 per cenl) tteatment Tl (46.85 per cent) and lastly by treatment Trl (Human expert wimout discussion) with only 28.47 per cent knowledge re tention. In other words, the quanmm of forgetfulness was higher in treattnent Ttl (Human expert without discussion) and lowest in treatment Tr4 (RUBEXS-04 with discussion). Analysis of variance for different treatments in terms of retention of knowledge: The analysis of variance technique was applied to rmd out the relative effectiveness of selected treatments in tenns of knowledge retcntion and the results are presented in Table 3. A perusal of Table 3 revealed that there was significant difference between the treatments with regard (Q knowledge retention 15 days after exposure to treatments. It was indicated by the significant 'F value at I per cent level of probability. The critical difference for the treatment was 2.35_ The mean score of the knowledge retention of the four treatments were of the order of Ti 4.92 n' 1.86 Tr' 1.75 T~ 0.78 These results indicate that all the treatments were effective, but distinctly different in terms of .knowledge retention. The treatment Tr4 was found to be superior and most effective in [enns of Irnowlcdge retention compared to all other three treatments. In Tr4, RUBEXS-04 was exposed to the group of subjects through Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) projector. It is in line wi th the latest developments, where the computer is occupying the center stage in the field of communication coupled with the LCD projector might have attracted the attention of subjects compared to the traditional audio-visual aids used by the human experts. The computer literacy among the users is supported by the user friendly software of RUBEXS-Q4 might have motivated the subjects to learn more. The delivery of message through RUBEXS-04 was through text, pictures and audio which might have enabled the subjects to sustain their interest. The exposure of treaunent RUBEXS-04 followed by discussion of about 15-20 minutes would have helped the subjects to clarify most of their doubts, also enriched learning situation, thus promoti ng better learning and maximum retention of knowledge. 102 INDIAN JOURNAL OF EX'I'ENSION EDUCATION Table 1. Mean knowledge retention after 15 days due to exposure to different treatments (0 = 120) S.No. Treatments Mean knowledge score Per cent of ' t' "aJue (n -30) Befort Immedlalely Mean knowledge exposure I. Human expert without discussion (Trl) 6.86 2. Human expert with 7.26 discussion (Ttl 3. RUBEXS-04 without 6.33 discussion (fr3) 4. RUBEXS-04 with 8.43 discussion (Tr4) S. Treatments No. (n = 30) Mean gain Menn knowledge score in Quantum Quantum knowledge retained forgotten Hrter after 15 days 15 days I. Th' 2.74 0.78 1.96 (28.47) (71.53) 2. T, ' 3.97 1.86 2.11 (46.85) (53. 15) 3. T,' 2.67 1.75 0.92 (65.54) (34.46) 4. T,' 6.80 4.92 1.88 (72.35) (27.65) Table 3. Analysis of variance for knowledge retention between the treatments (n = 120) Source or Degrees or Sum or Mwn 'F' value variation freedom squares square Treatment 3 423.153 28.210 2.&11** Em>' 116 1043.172 10.036 Total 119 1466.925 n Significant at O.Qllevel C.D. =2.35 after knowledge retained exposure retaIned 7.64 0.78 3.71 -3.746" 9.1 2 1.86 8.86 -2.868*· 8.08 1.75 8.33 ·2.174"'* 13.35 4,92 23.43 -7.969"'* The fmding is also in agreement with Sundaraswamy 8?d Rao (1m) who reported that there existed a significant dIfference between knowledge level immediately after ('-xposure to farm telecast and 15 days after telecast. The results of Kruskal Wallis test also support the results of thf ANOVA. This is evident from the highly significant X value. CONCLUSION Expert System (RUBEXS-04) with discussion had been most effective in transferring the critical rubber protection techm;~logies to fanners especially in tenns of knowledge re tention. The result clearly indicates that the ~ )(per: system do not replace people, but serve as an LOte lhg.e?t assistant, in improving the quality and proclUCllVlty of decision making in the field. Hence the expert system may be designed for many agricultural technol~gies and used either as diagnostic tool, as training leducatton tOO l, as decis ion supporting tool or as management tool to ensure speedier and effective transfer of fann technologies. REFERENCES Sundaraswamy, B. and M. K. Rao. (1977). An Evaluation of SI·TE. University of Agricultural Sciences, HebbaJ. Bangnlore. Indian Journal of ExIension Edu.cation Vo l. 42, No.1 & 2, 2006 (103-105) Resea rch NOIe Adoption of IPM Practices by Trained and Untrained Farmers Present day world is much concern about the envirorunentaljssues. The eeo-friendly technologies are to De monitored and reviewed periodically for the favour of adoption. In agriculture the concept of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is much focused since the past. IPM is a programme by farmers not for fanners. It seeks to empower farmers to become managers and decision makers so that they can handle and control their farms, The IPM progratpmes aims at educating the fanners and eXl.ension agencies through Farmers' Field School (FFS) or IPM cluster demonstrations-cum-training. Santha ( 1992) reported that the training on IPM promotes the adoption behavior of rPM technologies among the farmers. METHODOLOGY The study was conducted at Thiruvannamalai district, where the CIPMC (Central LPM Centre) organized the traini ng programme on !PM. A total of 120 farmers comprised of 60 trained and 60 untrained farmers were selected for this study by using the simple random sampling technique. The trained farmers underwent training on lPM for 12 weeks. The untrained fanners were selected from the nea! by viUages where such training was not offered. Data were collected by using a semi structured interview schedule. The selected items were categorized into four major artas viz., cultural method comprised of 15 items, chemical method comprised of 7 items, biological method comprised of2 items and physical method comprised of 2 items. The statistical tools used were percentage analysis, cumulative frequency metho~ zero order correlation and independent 't' test. S. Parthasarathit and Santha Govind2 RESULTS AND DlSCUSSION . Overall adoption of IPM practices: The data in Table 1 show that majority (48.33 per cent) of the trained fanners feU under high level of adoption and but only 13.33 per cenl of untrained fanners fell in to the category of high adoption. It may also be observed that there was signlflcant difference exists between the mean values of trained and untrained fanners. This indicates that there was difference among me trained and untrained fanners in their extent of adoption. Training may be the sole reason for their extent of adopticn in the case oftraim:d farmers . Table 1. Distribution of respondents according to their extent of adoption of !PM technology Category Low Medium Hi,," Total Mean score Trained farmers (N =60) Number %tage !O 16.67 21 35.00 29 48.33 60 100.00 78.88 70.80 Mean difference 8.08 't' value 3.43** (USignificantatO.OIlevelof probllbiUly) Untrained farmers (N = 60) Number O/O tage 28 46.67 24 40.00 8 13.33 60 100.00 Item wise adoption of IPM practices : The item wise adoption of !PM practices were given in Table 2. 1 Ass!. Prof. (Agril.Cxl~~i{ln .), Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru Coliege of Agriculture & RI, Karaikal, U.T. of Pondicherry. 2Professor (Agri!. . Ext~rlSjon.) Dept. of Agri!. Extension., Faculty of Agriculture, Annamalai University. 

Effectiveness of expert system on knowledge retention

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Effectiveness of expert system on knowledge retention

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