Construction and Validation of Knowledge Test on Indigenous Technical Knowledge Practices

Prashish Singh; Shenjuti  Chowdhary; Priyanka  Roy; Arun Kumar  Singh

doi:10.48165/IJEE.2026.623RT02

Authors

Prashish Singh BANARAS HINDU UNIVERSITY, INSTITUTE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, DEPARTMENT OF SOIL SCIENCE AND AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY
Shenjuti Chowdhary Research Scholar, Department of Extension Education, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, -221005
Priyanka Roy Research Scholar, Department of Extension Education, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, -221005
Arun Kumar Singh Senior-Professor, Department of Extension Education, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, -221005

https://doi.org/10.48165/IJEE.2026.623RT02

Keywords:

Indigenous Technical Knowledge, knowledge test, tribal farmers, item analysis, reliability, validity.

Abstract

Indigenous Technical Knowledge (ITK) is vital to tribal farming systems, supporting local resource use, biodiversity conservation, food security, ethnoveterinary care, indigenous food processing and climate adaptation. However, the absence of standardized instruments restricts assessment of ITK knowledge gaps and planning of need-based extension interventions. This study constructed and validated a knowledge test to assess tribal farmers’ knowledge of ITK practices. The target population comprised tribal farmers possessing or practising ITK in agriculture and allied activities in the study area. Initially, 66 items were developed through literature review, expert consultation and field-level understanding of ITK domains. The item pool was content-validated by 60 experts. Relevancy Weightage (RW), Mean Relevancy Score (MRS) and Overall Mean Relevancy Score (OMRS) were computed using established procedures. Based on relevancy screening, 43 items were retained and administered to 60 non-sample farmers for pilot testing. Difficulty index, discrimination index and point-biserial correlation were calculated. Item statistics showed difficulty values (0.433–0.667) and discrimination values (0.333–0.567), confirming moderate difficulty and discrimination. Finally, 35 items were retained. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.93, indicating excellent internal consistency. The test was valid, reliable and suitable for assessing ITK knowledge, diagnosing gaps, evaluating capacity-building programmes and supporting documentation, preservation and promotion of ITK.

Author Biographies

Shenjuti Chowdhary, Research Scholar, Department of Extension Education, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, -221005

Research Scholar, Department of Extension Education, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, -221005
Priyanka Roy, Research Scholar, Department of Extension Education, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, -221005

Research Scholar, Department of Extension Education, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, -221005
Arun Kumar Singh, Senior-Professor, Department of Extension Education, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, -221005

Senior-Professor, Department of Extension Education, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh, -221005

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