Quality Assessment of YouTube Contents regarding Hydroponic Technology

Abstract

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to assess overall quality of the YouTube contents regarding hydroponic technology. Methods. On YouTube, the keyword “hydroponic technology” was searched, and 393 contents were identified. A total of 202 contents matched the inclusion requirements which were graded using a modified standard scoring scheme. A panel of six reviewers scored the contents utilizing a scoring scheme and evaluated likes, dislikes, views, and duration of the contents. Content was categorized based on quality, themes, publisher type, publisher country, and publishing year. To explore multiple comparisons, the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied (P<0.05considered as statistically significant). Findings. We observed that the significant portion of YouTube content on hydroponic technology was of poor quality (52.5%). A small portion of the evaluated content was of medium quality (32.2%), with the rest being of good quality (15.3%). Depending on quality, variables such as likes, views, and duration differed significantly. According to video demographics, the USA published most of the content, and 2020 was the peak year for content released. Majority of contents were produced by organizations with an emphasis on practical application. Conclusion. Despite the fact that YouTube contains a wide range of hydroponic technology content, the amount of good-quality content on YouTube is still insufficient. Originality/Value. This report summarizes the present scenario and sets standard content quality schemes that disclose the content quality debate regarding hydroponic technology. Furthermore, understanding viewing patterns will assist policymakers to disseminate hydroponic technology information effectively.