5.5. Field observation
The coefficients of importance of information from
direct field observations were significantly different
from zero at a 1% significance level and negative in
the regressions for illness from pesticide residues on
foods, for illness from pesticides in drinking water,
and for injury to wildlife. This coefficient was significantly
different from zero at a 5% significance level
and positive in the regression for illness and injury
from applying pesticides. Thus, respondents considering
direct field observation a more important source of
information tended to be more concerned about applicator
safety and less concerned with non-farm problems
associated with pesticides, such as residues on
foods, drinking water contamination, and wildlife injury.
The effects of this information source on attitudes
about drinking water contamination and wildlife injury
contrast with those of other growers as a source of
information, suggesting a possible difference between the more self-reliant growers and those who rely more
on what others think.