In this chapter the research design used, the populations who participated in the

study, the procedures used for data collection and the statistics used to analyze the data

are described.

 Research Design

 The research design of this study was a three-part assessment of the Florida Farm

Bureau and its membership using both qualitative and quantitative research methods.

The three parts of this study included:

1. A qualitative long interview of members of the state leadership of the FFBF. This
 interview was the first part of the study and provided the foundation for the
 leadership competency instrument given to county Farm Bureau board members.
 Interview questions included their expectations of desired leadership practices and
 behaviors of local board members and their expectations of what county Farm
 Bureau boards should accomplish. The information provided in these interviews
 accomplished the second objective of this study.

2. A quantitative survey instrument was developed by the researcher, based upon
 findings from the qualitative interview and given to a random sample of members
 of local Farm Bureau boards. This instrument had a list of 66 leadership
 competencies, derived from the qualitative long interviews, which were divided into
 four sections and each respondent rated their perceived importance and proficiency
 of each. This instrument was used to accomplish the third objective of this study.

 3. A quantitative leadership behavior instrument developed by the researcher and
 administered to active Farm Bureau members. This instrument measured
 respondent attitude/will/desire regarding leadership to determine if leadership
 apathy exists. Objectives four and five were accomplished by this instrument.

 A demographic section was included at the end of both quantitative instruments to

collect personal information about survey respondents. This information was used to

accomplish the first objective of this study.

 Quantitative research uses objective measurement and numerical analysis of data

to explain the causes of changes in social phenomena. Qualitative research, seeks to

understand a social phenomenon through the researcher's total immersion in the situation.