| Abstract | 第5-6页 |
| 摘要 | 第7-14页 |
| List of Acronyms and Abbreviations | 第14-15页 |
| 1 Introduction | 第15-31页 |
| 1.1 The Research Background | 第15-18页 |
| 1.2 Statement of the Research Problem | 第18-20页 |
| 1.3 Significance of the Study | 第20-21页 |
| 1.4 Research Objectives and Questions | 第21-22页 |
| 1.5 Overview of the Research Design | 第22-23页 |
| 1.6 Context of the Study | 第23-27页 |
| 1.7 Main Innovations/Contributions | 第27-28页 |
| 1.8 Organization of the Thesis | 第28-31页 |
| 2 Review of Literature | 第31-72页 |
| 2.1 Theoretical Literature | 第31-62页 |
| 2.1.1 Definitions and Clarifications of Concepts | 第31-41页 |
| 2.1.2 Theoretical Constructs and Models in Information Behaviour | 第41-48页 |
| 2.1.3 Selected Information Seeking Models | 第48-58页 |
| 2.1.4 Agricultural Information Systems | 第58-61页 |
| 2.1.5 Gaps in the Theoretical Literature | 第61-62页 |
| 2.2 Empirical Literature | 第62-72页 |
| 2.2.1 Agricultural Information Needs | 第62-66页 |
| 2.2.2 Sources and Channels of Communication in Agriculture | 第66-70页 |
| 2.2.3 Information Seeking Behaviour of Farmers | 第70-71页 |
| 2.2.4 Gaps in the Empirical Studies | 第71-72页 |
| 3 Research Design for Model Development | 第72-87页 |
| 3.1 Design Phase 1: Source Model Selection and Identifying Dimensions andDeterminants Relating to the Farmers' ISB | 第73-81页 |
| 3.2 Design Phase 2: Conducting a Preliminary Study | 第81-83页 |
| 3.3 Design Phase 3: Synthesizing a Model of Farmers' ISB | 第83-85页 |
| 3.4 Design Phase 4: Evaluating the Proposed Model of Farmes' ISB | 第85-87页 |
| 4 Research Methods | 第87-103页 |
| 4.1 Data Collection | 第87-99页 |
| 4.1.1 Operationalizing the Model Constructs for Evaluation | 第87-90页 |
| 4.1.2 Data Collection Instruments Selection and Development | 第90-95页 |
| 4.1.3 Pilot Testing of the Survey Questionnaire | 第95页 |
| 4.1.4 Selection of the Study Population | 第95-96页 |
| 4.1.5 Sample Design | 第96-98页 |
| 4.1.6 Data Collection Survey | 第98-99页 |
| 4.2 Data Analysis | 第99-103页 |
| 4.2.1 Evaluation of the Proposed Model of Farmes' ISB | 第99页 |
| 4.2.2 Determining the Information Need Extent of the Vegetable Farmers | 第99-100页 |
| 4.2.3 Determining the Extent of ISB of the Vegetable Farmers | 第100页 |
| 4.2.4 Determining the Information Needs of the Vegetable Farmers | 第100页 |
| 4.2.5 Exploring the Information Sources of the Vegetable Farmers | 第100-101页 |
| 4.2.6 Exploring the Information Channels of the Vegetable Farmers | 第101页 |
| 4.2.7 Determining Sources/Channels Selection Criteria of the Farmers | 第101-102页 |
| 4.2.8 Determining the Factors that Influence the Vegetable Farmers'ISB | 第102页 |
| 4.2.9 Vegetable Farmer's Opinion on the Current Information Systems | 第102-103页 |
| 5 Results and Discussion | 第103-128页 |
| 5.1 Demographic Profile of the Respondent Farmers | 第103-104页 |
| 5.2 Quantitative Evaluation of the Proposed Model | 第104-110页 |
| 5.2.1 Data Screening and Reliability Testing | 第104-105页 |
| 5.2.2 Relationships between Information Needs and Activating Factors | 第105-107页 |
| 5.2.3 Relationships between Information Needs and Intervening Variables | 第107-108页 |
| 5.2.4 The Relationship between ISB and Information Needs | 第108-109页 |
| 5.2.5 The Relationship between ISB and Channel Characteristics | 第109页 |
| 5.2.6 Relationships between ISB and Intervening Variables | 第109-110页 |
| 5.3 Qualitative Evaluation of the Proposed Model | 第110-111页 |
| 5.4 Comments on the Synthesized Model and Guidelines for Use | 第111-112页 |
| 5.5 Information Seeking Pattern of the Vegetable Farmers in Sri Lanka | 第112-128页 |
| 5.5.1 General Telecommunication Use of the Vegetable Farmers | 第112页 |
| 5.5.2 The Extent of Informational Need of the Vegetable Farmers | 第112-113页 |
| 5.5.3 The Extent of Information Seeking Behaviour of the Vegetable Farmers | 第113页 |
| 5.5.4 Types of Informational Needs of the Vegetable Farmers | 第113-116页 |
| 5.5.5 Information Sources of the Vegetable Farmers | 第116-118页 |
| 5.5.6 Information Channels of the Vegetable Farmers | 第118-120页 |
| 5.5.7 Sources/Channels Selection Criteria of the Vegetable Farmers | 第120页 |
| 5.5.8 Factors that Affect on the Vegetable Farmers' ISB | 第120-125页 |
| 5.5.9 Farmers' Opinion on Current Information Systems in the Country | 第125-128页 |
| 6 Conclusions and Implications | 第128-135页 |
| 6.1 Research Problem, Objectives and Key Findings | 第128-130页 |
| 6.1.1 Developing a Model of Farmers' ISB | 第128-129页 |
| 6.1.2 Exploring the ISB of the Vegetable Farmers in Sri Lanka | 第129-130页 |
| 6.2 Theoretical Implications | 第130-131页 |
| 6.3 Practical Implications | 第131-133页 |
| 6.4 Study Limitations and Implications for Future Research | 第133-135页 |
| References | 第135-158页 |
| Appendix A-Information Need Dimensions of the Vegetable Farmers | 第158-159页 |
| Appendix B-Information Sources Used by the Vegetable Farmers | 第159-160页 |
| Appendix C-Information Channels Used by the Vegetable Farmers | 第160-161页 |
| Appendix D-The Questionnaire Used in the Survey | 第161-168页 |
| Appendix E-The Evaluation Form Used in the Expert Evaluation | 第168-169页 |
| Academic Publications during the PhD Period | 第169-170页 |
| Acknowledgement | 第170-171页 |
| About the Author | 第171-173页 |
