Colleagues/

Diffusion of Innovations is a theory of how, why, and at what rate new ideas and technology spread through cultures. [snip]

The publication of a study of Ryan and Gross on the diffusion of hybrid corn in Iowa[3] was the first sustainably visible contribution in a broader interest in innovations which was especially popularized by the textbook by Everett Rogers (1962), Diffusion of Innovations (Rogers 1962). He defines diffusion as "the process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among the members of a social system."

[snip]

Diffusion of an innovation occurs through a five–step process. This process is a type of decision-making. It occurs through a series of communication channels over a period of time among the members of a similar social system. Ryan and Gross first indicated the identification of adoption as a process in 1943 (Rogers 1962, p. 79). Rogers categorizes the five stages (steps) as: awareness, interest, evaluation, trial, and adoption. An individual might reject an innovation at anytime during or after the adoption process. In later editions of the Diffusion of Innovations Rogers changes the terminology of the five stages to: knowledge, persuasion, decision, implementation, and confirmation. However the descriptions of the categories have remained similar throughout the editions.

[snip]

Rogers defines an adopter category as a classification of individuals within a social system on the basis of innovativeness. In the book Diffusion of Innovations, Rogers suggests a total of five categories of adopters in order to standardize the usage of adopter categories in diffusion research. The adoption of an innovation follows an S curve when plotted over a length of time.[10] The categories of adopters are: innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards (Rogers 1962, p. 150)

BTW: Rogers is an Iowa native who attended Iowa State [:-)]

This Weekend I Had An Epiphany >>>

Would It Be (More) Useful To Consider Innovation And Its Adoption As A Matter Of One's Time Zone >>>

That Is > One's Temporal Orientation > The Past And/Or The Present And/Or The Future ?

I Would Most Appreciate Your Thoughts On This WorldView / Please Post As A Comment On The Associated Blog Entry At

[ http://bit.ly/b6UdDE ]

I Would Also Appreciate Any/All Relevant Cites/Sites >>>

BTW: It Just Learned Of A Key Site That Has Exactly What I Had In Mind [:-)] And Have Sited It In The Blog Entry

>>> Great Minds Do Think A-Like >>>

Thanks !

/Gerry   

Gerry McKiernan
Associate Professor
Science and Technology Librarian
Iowa State University Library
Ames IA 50011

Follow Me On Twitter > http://twitter.com/GMcKBlogs

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