MEMBERSHIP RELATIONS OF COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATIONS 5 
limitations of cooperative marketing associations; degree of satisfac- 
tion and anticipations realized; causes of dissatisfaction ; understand- 
ing and appreciation of marketing services performed by the associa- 
tion; and knowledge of the association and its operations. 
The questions relating to each of these subjects were not placed 
together, but were distributed throughout the schedule. This was 
done to reduce the possibility that previous questions or answers 
would suggest answers to questions which followed. The purpose of 
the interview was to find out what the members actually thought, 
and it was desired to avoid, so far as possible, suggesting the answer 
to any question. 
If an answer was not readily forthcoming, the interviewer did not 
press the question, or wait for the member to think up an answer, 
but passed to the next question on the schedule. This occasionally 
resulted in failure to obtain answers to some questions. It is be- 
lieved, however, that sufficient data have been obtained from each 
member to furnish a definite idea of his attitude toward his asso- 
ciation. 
IDEAS PREVAILING AMONG MEMBERS REGARDING MARKETING 
ASSOCIATIONS 
Ideas regarding the purpose and possibilities of cooperative mar- 
keting associations differ in popular discussion and doubtless differ 
among members of the same organizations. Differences are revealed 
in reasons for joining, expectations, and ideas regarding the possi- 
bilities and limitations of cooperative associations. Answers to the 
question, “ What was your main reason for joining the association? ” 
are to be found in Table 1. 
TABLE 1—Replies to question, “What was your main reason for joining the 
association? ” 
Members reporting 
Reply Association | 
| Total 
L stk 2 3 | 4 | 
| | 
| 
| Number| Number, Number, Number Number 
nes weraces tices <8 em ee Ae ee ae 50 61 | 6 65 236 
Hew prices at time of organizabion= => _===__ 9o oe Fe Ly ee eee Zz 23 
eeeaiisned with Cxisting System > >." . tee eat Oe | 2, 4 7 31 44 
PIONS 16eR POOR TIE oe a a ee 1 20 33 21 75 
Pickelntfaviiers OTgani7zaliGus 4.26 Ss Se ee | Nl Oe eT 8 9 29 
(UE ce eS SS ale See ee a ica aie 18 23 | Ee 55 
| feces Sed fae a 
Meine 2 aaa FAG WI. een re 0 - | | 108 122 | 133 | 462 
The answers shown in Table 1 indicate that desire for higher 
prices was the dominant motive of the members in joining the asso- 
ciation. ‘This is to be expected because cooperative marketing is a 
business enterprise that is undertaken to make more profitable the 
farming operations of the cooperating farmers. The large propor- 
tion of members of association 4 who answered, “ Dissatisfied with 
existing system,” probably may be explained by local conditions in 
