Abstract of Thesis Presented to the Graduate School
 of the University of Florida in Partial Fulfillment of the
 Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science

 FACTORS AFFECTING OKLAHOMA CHEROKEE FARMERS' USE OF
TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES: SOCIOECONOMICS, THEORY OF
 PLANNED BEHAVIOR AND RESOURCE ACCESS
 By

 Mital Sharad Shah

 December 2006

Chair: Marilyn E. Swisher
Major Department: Interdisciplinary Ecology

 Many individuals discuss the importance of maintaining traditional agricultural

practices. Some argue that they may contribute cultural and biodiversity. It is important

to understand the factors that can influence farmers to consciously maintain these

behaviors when perceived direct benefits may not accrue from using them. The case

study took place in Cherokee Nation's fourteen county jurisdictions in northeast

Oklahoma. The purpose of the study was to investigate how socioeconomic

characteristics, the theory of planned behavior and access to resources influence the

degree to which Cherokee farmers use traditional agricultural practices (TAP). Thirty-

four Cherokee farmers participated in the study. Instruments were administered through

self-completion questionnaires and interviews.

 Farmers were placed into two user groups based on their use of TAP. Groups were

compared to each other based on the measured predictor variables. Results show that high

TAP users tend to be small scale farmers or home gardeners. They sometimes identify