Hello Namgay,

The resultant scale for your factor (EXTENSION_USE) is largely arbitrary and interval-strength, not ratio strength. You may apply any linear transformation you like (such as, adding some positive constant value to all scores) without changing the meaning of the variable. In other words, the "zero" value doesn't (here) mean none or an absence of the characteristic (as would be the case if you had a ratio-strength variable).

What it does likely mean is that you have cases (farmers) who have lower scores on this factor, as well as cases having higher scores on this factor. That might translate most succinctly into farmers who are less or more likely to use resources available to them via extension service office/staff.

Good luck with your work.

Hi Dr. David Morse:

Thank you very much for responding to my query in great detail and with absolute clarity, and for wishing me luck. Your advice was very helpful and now I know that negative values only indicate a use to a lesser extent of extension service and not "shying" away from it. Also, now I understand that a ZERO value does not mean a non-usage of extension service but a degree of usage that is lesser than a positive value and greater than a negative one. It makes a lot of sense to interpret the scores as you advised. I can either transform the scores as you advised or not interpret ZEROs in the conventional way.

Please do kindly advise me if I have not understood you correctly.

Thank you very much again and best wishes for your success.

With kind regards,

Namgay Dorji.