Data Collection, Experimental Design & Data Analysis in Forage Trials Training course report

Abstract

Under the ACIAR forage project activities, a training workshop conducted in Afghanistan from 16 to 18 April 2018, on Data Collection, Experimental Design & Data Analysis in Forage Trials. The course delivered by Dr Arash Nejatian (ICARDA, Dubai) assisted by Drs. Serkan Ates (OSU, USA); Hassan Sawsan and Mounir Louhaichi and (ICARDA, Amman). The objective of the workshop is to share knowledge on statistical concepts and methodologies for designing field experiments and biometrical techniques applied in agricultural (forage trial) research, and to provide an opportunity to ARIA staff/researchers to carry out statistical analysis of their data, and prepare a draft research manuscript for publication. Fifteen national staff attended this training workshop. The training course was include both theoretical and practical session on: Introduction to statistical software for Windows and its use for management of data; Design and analysis of agronomic field trials; Preparation of a draft manuscript for publication in an International journal.The training materials were presented in Farsi. The course was also includes a good number of practical examples using SPSS software. To understand the level of participants knowledge on training course subject a pre-test carried out before the course. The same test also conducted after the training. The results clearly shows participants improvement where the average grades from 34% in pretest reach to 66% in final exam. The paired t-student test also indicate there is significant difference between the marks in two exams. 68% of total participants, mentioned that the information they received about the course before attending was stuffiest (very good and excellent). More than 93% of participants mentioned that the subjects presented in the course was useful. Similarly 85% of participants replied to the statement “The subjects delivered in the workshop added new knowledge and information to mine” chose very good and excellent. Again 94% of the participants believe that “Level of utilization of the subject and contents of the workshop in practice” is very good or excellent. All of the participants (100%) gave the very good or excellent to “The technical presentations presented by experts were useful and related to the workshop subject”; “The moderators encouraged participants to positively interact” ; and “The answered and questions session was sufficing and queries raised answered clearly”. Regarding the time management more than 80% of participates reply very good and excellent to “The moderators managed the session’s time efficiently”. However, it seems participants preferred more days of training as only 68% of them in reply to “The length of the workshop was adequate for the contents” chose very good and excellent. About 88% of the participants responded to the “The workshop met its objectives” with very good and excellent.