Analysis of the attitude of male and female students towards agrisciences: a case study in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the University of Tehran

The main purpose of this research was to perform an analysis of the attitude of male and female students towards agrisciences in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources of the University of Tehran. It was a correlational-descriptive research which was conducted through a survey method. The statistical population of the study consisted of 1677 male and female students, out of which 236 students were selected as sample using proportionate stratified random sampling technique. The content validity of the questionnaire was approved through getting opinions of 14 agricultural extension specialists and experts working in the University of Tehran. The scale of attitude of the questionnaire was proved to be reliable as Cronbach Alpha Coefficients was equal to 0.80. According to the results, the relationship between student's time spent to use computer and their attitude towards agrisciences was negative and significant. Meanwhile, the relationship between the priority given to the selected discipline at the time of exam entrance with their attitude towards agrisciences was negatively significant. The results of factor analysis of attitude of students towards agrisciences showed that the most important factor of attitude formation was the needs for achievement from the view points of male students. The same analysis revealed that from the opinion of female students the potential of agriscienes to secure psychological needs such as enjoyment of studying agriculture and getting useful information in personal life and satisfaction of psychological needs were the most important factors forming their attitude and making it favorable towards agrisciences.