McLean County, Illinois farmers were surveyed in order to explore and analyze their perceptions of genetically modified crops and their genetically modified cropping decisions. Questionnaires were mailed to 400 randomly selected farmers, and 156 were returned. The 134 respondents who reported that they planned to plant crops in 2003 were asked to provide information about gender, age, education, and number of tillable acres farmed. Respondents were also asked if they had previously planted genetically modified crops and if they planned to plant either genetically modified corn or genetically modified soybeans in 2003. Finally, respondents were presented with 40 statements that pertained to biotechnology and genetically modified crops, and they were asked to record their level of agreement or disagreement with each statement using a 5-point Likert scale. Factor analysis was used to construct four factors from responses to the 40 statements that pertained to biotechnology and genetically modified crops. Items that loaded into the first factor indicated that McLean county farmers perceived agricultural biotechnology to be acceptable and beneficial, and their perspectives of biotechnology were much broader than the economic impacts on their own farms. The second factor revealed that McLean County farmers' cropping decisions had been affected to some degree by events such as the StarLink corn case that had cast a negative shadow over biotechnology. The third factor reflected direct benefits of genetically modified crops to farm operations, specifically higher yields and profits. The fourth factor included increased regulation of genetically modified crops in international markets and lower prices for genetically modified crops, which were potentially negative factors in the marketing of genetically modified crops. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to classify respondents according to past and planned experiences with genetically modified crops. When weighted factor scores from the four factors were used as independent variables, 100% of farmers who had planted genetically modified crops in the past, 98.4% of farmers who planned to plant genetically modified crops in 2003, and 100% of farmers who had not discontinued planting genetically modified crops were correctly classified. On the other hand, only 62.5% of farmers who had not planted genetically modified crops in the past, 60.0% of farmers who planned to not plant genetically modified crops in 2003, and 60.0% of farmers who had discontinued planting genetically modified crops were correctly classified. When the highest loading items from each of the four factors were used as independent variables, classification of farmers who had planted genetically modified crops in the past, farmers who planned to plant genetically modified crops in 2003, and farmers who had not discontinued planting genetically modified crops were little changed. However, correct classification of farmers who had not planted genetically modified crops in the past dropped from 62.5% to 50%, correct classification of farmers who had planned to not plant genetically modified crops in 2003 dropped from 60.0% to 20.0%, and correct classification of farmers who had discontinued planting genetically modified crops dropped from 60% to 0%. Additional information about farmers' age, education, and farm size increased the explanatory power of models only modestly. Inspection of regression coefficients revealed that increases in Factor 1 scores, which were dominated by positive aspects of biotechnology from a macro perspective, were associated with increases in odds ratios for having planted genetically modified crops in the past, having planned to plant genetically modified crops in 2003, and having continued planting genetically modified crops. Alternatively, increases in Factor 2 scores, which were dominated by negative perceptions of genetically modified seeds and crops, were associated with increases in odds ratios for having planned to not plant genetically modified crops in 2003, and having discontinued planting genetically modified crops. Factor 3 scores, which were dominated by micro benefits to farmers, were associated with increases in odds ratios for having planned to plant genetically modified crops in 2003, and having continued planting genetically modified crops. Results for two individual items that were significant, namely "as a consumer, I am satisfied with the benefits of biotechnology," and "restrictions on saving GM seed affect my GM crop planting decisions," were consistent with results for weighted factor scores. Greater agreement with the former statement was associated with increases in odds ratios for having planted genetically modified crops in the past, and having planned to plant genetically modified crops in 2003. Greater agreement with the latter statement was associated with increases in odds ratios for having planned to not plant genetically modified crops in 2003 and having discontinued planting genetically modified crops.

伊利诺斯州麦克莱恩县农民对转基因作物看法的分析。研究人员对伊利诺伊州麦克莱恩县的农民进行了调查，以探讨和分析他们对转基因作物的看法以及他们对转基因作物种植的决定。随机抽取400名农民，将调查问卷邮寄给他们，其中156人被退回。134名报告计划在2003年种植作物的受访者被要求提供有关性别、年龄、教育程度和耕种的可耕种面积的信息。受访者还被问及是否曾经种植过转基因作物，以及是否计划在2003年种植转基因玉米或转基因大豆。最后，研究人员向受访者提供了40份与生物技术和转基因作物有关的陈述，并要求他们使用5点李克特量表记录他们对每个陈述的同意或不同意程度。利用因子分析从对涉及生物技术和转基因作物的40个陈述的反应中构建4个因子。归入第一个因素的项目表明，麦克林县农民认为农业生物技术是可接受的和有益的，而且他们对生物技术的看法比其对自己农场的经济影响要广泛得多。第二个因素表明，麦克莱恩县农民的种植决定在一定程度上受到了StarLink玉米案等事件的影响，这些事件给生物技术投下了负面的阴影。第三个因素反映了转基因作物对农业经营的直接好处，特别是更高的产量和利润。第四个因素包括国际市场对转基因作物的监管力度加大，以及转基因作物的价格降低，这些都是转基因作物营销的潜在负面因素。采用二元逻辑回归分析，根据过去和计划的转基因作物经验对受访者进行分类。当四个因素的加权因子得分作为独立变量,100%的农民种植转基因作物在过去,98.4%的农民计划种植转基因作物,2003年,100%的农民没有停止种植转基因作物被正确分类。另一方面，在过去没有种植转基因作物的农户中，只有62.5%被正确分类;在2003年计划不种植转基因作物的农户中，只有60.0%被正确分类;在停止种植转基因作物的农户中，只有60.0%被正确分类。当加载项最高的四个因素作为自变量,分类的农民种植转基因作物在过去,2003年计划种植转基因作物的农民,和农民没有停止种植转基因作物基本持平。然而,正确的分类不种植转基因作物的农民过去从62.5%下降到50%,正确分类的农民曾计划不种植转基因作物在2003年从60.0%下降到20.0%,和正确分类的农民停止种植转基因作物从60%下降到0%。关于农民年龄、受教育程度和农场规模的额外信息，仅略微增加了模型的解释能力。回归系数的检验显示,增加因子1的分数,这是由生物技术的积极方面从宏观的角度来看,与增加有关优势比为种植转基因作物在过去,计划2003年种植转基因作物,并继续种植转基因作物。另一种情况是，因子2得分的增加，以neg为主