Using Case–Scenarios to Determine the Perceptions of Secondary Agriculture Teachers and 4-H Youth Development Personnel Regarding Interorganizational Cooperation

Abstract

The Prisoners Dilemma (Axelrod, 1984) served as a basis for determining the levels of cooperative behavior secondary agriculture teachers and 4-H youth development Extension personnel exhibited in response to two case–scenarios. Additionally, the study sought to determine if the interorganizational cooperation was positively or negatively interdependent. A simple random sample (n = 210) was taken from secondary agriculture teachers (N = 414) in Missouri and a census of 4-H youth development personnel (N = 91) employed by the University of Missouri Extension was taken at the time of this study. A mixed–mode design was implemented for data collection, which was accomplished using mailed and electronic questionnaires. Responses to the two case–scenarios indicated levels of cooperation varied depending on the context of the situation. The existence or absence of competition also appeared to shift the level of cooperation to or from pure cooperation. In addition, the cooperative behaviors of secondary agriculture teachers and 4-H youth development personnel differed regarding the level of cooperation desired, thereby affecting whether interdependence was positive or negative.