Standardization of Socio-Economic Status (SES) Scale for Farm Families in South West Nigeria

Abstract

Dearth of appropriate scale for the measurement of socio- economic status of farm families in South West Nigeria necessitated this study. The study sampled 650 respondents from rainforest and derived savannah ecological zones of South West Nigeria using multistage sampling. Heads of farm families were sampled from villages in Oyo and Osun States to represent the two ecological zones. Correlation analysis was used to determine items that are valid for inclusion in the scale through item analysis. Weights were assigned to valid items using the sigma scoring method. Of the 265 items collated for measuring SES, only 33 are valid for determining the socio- economic status of farm families in the study area. Also, of all the valid items, the number of children that are graduates is the most valid one for measuring SES, followed by the number of children in higher institutions of learning and farm size. Ownership of vehicles attracted the highest weight of all the items (9), followed by ownership of houses (8). Concurrent validity of the scale showed a high correlation (t=1.28; p=0.02), and reliability coefficient of r=0.89 which confirms the new scale’s validity and reliability. Respondents’ SES scores is positively skewed (more respondents obtained low SES scores), with mean value of 63 and the minimum and maximum values being 30 and 129. Developmental interventions need be focused on the farm families in such a way that it will assist them improve their income generating activities so that their socio-economic status can be enhanced.