Social Networks Stimuli: A Double Dekker Semi-Partialling Multiple Regression Quadratic Assigment Procedure (Mrqap) Approach: Case of Small-Scale Farmers in Kenya

Kamau Joram Ngugi*

Received: November 28, 2018;   Published: December 05, 2018

DOI: 10.26717/BJSTR.2018.11.002149

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Abstract

Markets in Kenya are characterized by existence of information asymmetry among the parties involved. Like any other developing country, Kenyan markets involves high transaction cost especially in search of quality inputs and market information. These market imperfections inhibits a fair competition among the actors. This consequently has resulted to unfair trade where the farmers find themselves in a disadvantaged edge hence becoming difficult to transform into commercialization. This study examined the social network stimuli on information acquisition on banana production and marketing information among small holder farmers in Murang’a county. Double Dekker Semi-Partialling Multiple Regression Quadratic Assignment Procedure (MRQAP) approach in Ucinet was used in the analysis. An n by n matrix of the farmers who rely on ‘informal networks’ formed the dependent variable that was subjected to the test of hypothesis. The independent variable enters the QAP regression as matrices where in all the variables, the rows are similar (egos) while the columns capture the variables’ attributes. All the data were coded in binary form to generate an adjacency matrix. Among the variables analyzed, the study indicates that group membership, trade, friendship and gender indicates a positive embedding to social ties.

Keywords : Social Network Stimuli; Ucinet; Informal Networks; MRQAP