Research Regarding Mountain Products: Cropping and Benefits for the USA and Canada - Knowledge Shares With Global Mountain Entrepreneurs

Source of first information about external funds

The source through which respondents first learned about external funds, based on Question 1 of the study survey. Response options included television, radio, newspapers, magazines, internet or website, friends or relatives, and other sources. Results are reported as the number and proportion of respondents for each response category. \[1-2\]

Time frame: 36 months

Characteristics of external funding accessed

Characteristics of the external funding accessed by respondents, assessed using Questions 2 through 7 of the study survey. Variables included duration of use, contracting institution, type of financing, subtype of financing, priority axis, and accessed funding measure. Results were reported according to the response categories for each variable. \[1-2\]

Time frame: 36 months

Perceived quality of external funding application compared with other financing

Respondents' assessment of the quality of the application of funding compared with other types of funding, assessed using Question 8 of the study survey. Responses were recorded on an ordinal five-category scale ranging from Much worse to Much better. \[1-2\]

Time frame: 36 months

Overall perceived quality of implementation of external funds

Respondents' overall assessment of the quality of implementation of external funds, assessed using Question 9 of the study survey. Responses were recorded using the ordinal response categories provided in the survey. \[1-2\]

Time frame: 36 months

Importance of factors considered when choosing an external grant

The importance assigned by respondents to factors considered when choosing an external grant, assessed using Question 10 of the study survey. Factors included application quality, co-financing, need, cost-benefit ratio, and familiarity with the desired funding measure. Each factor was ranked from 1 (least important) to 5 (most important). \[1-2\]

Time frame: 36 months

Recommendation of external funding to others

The proportion of respondents who would recommend external funding to other people, assessed using Question 11 of the study survey. Responses were categorized as Yes or No. \[1-2\]

Time frame: 36 months

Recovery of the full amount requested for financing

The proportion of respondents reporting recovery of the full amount requested for financing, assessed using Question 14 of the study survey. Responses were categorized as Yes or No. \[1-2\]

Time frame: 36 months

Perceived needs for improvement of external funding

Respondents' reported advantages and disadvantages of external funding and their perceived needs and suggestions for improving the financing of external funds, based on the open-ended responses to Questions 12 and 15 of the study. \[1-2\]

Time frame: 36 months