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Lecture 13. The Diffusion of Innovations. What is Diffusion of Innovation?. It is not so much about what researchers or inventors innovate – it is more about what people adopt . Definition of Diffusion of Innovation.
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Lecture 13 The Diffusion of Innovations
What is Diffusion of Innovation? • It is not so much about what researchers or inventors innovate– it is more about what people adopt.
Definition of Diffusion of Innovation • “the process by which an innovation is communicatedthrough certain channels over time among the members of a social system” (Rogers 1983)
Four Basic Concepts in Diffusion of Innovation • Innovation • Idea, object, or practice that is perceived as new • Channels of Communication • Means by which info is transmitted to or within the social system • Time • Rate at which the innovation is diffused or the relative speed with which it is adopted • Social System • Individuals, organizations, or agencies that are potential adopters of the innovation
Common Scope of Diffusion Research • (1) Characteristics of an innovation which may influence its adoption • (2) Decision-making process that occurs when individuals consider adopting a new innovation • (3) The characteristics of individuals that make them likely to adopt the innovation • (4) The consequences for individuals and society of adopting the innovation • (5) Communication channels used in the adoption process
Various Early Diffusion Studies Adapted from Mahajan and Peterson (1985)
Purpose of Diffusion Models • To depict the successive increase in the number of adopters over time. • Permits predictionof the continued development of the diffusion process. • Facilitates a theoretical explanation of the dynamics of the diffusion process.
Who uses this stuff? • Marketers! • Movie studios • Political and Interest groups
Foundations of Research on Diffusion of Innovations • Gabriel Tarde (1903) • Proposed the S-shaped curve • As it turned out, study after study tended to show the exact same S-shaped curve when researchers plot the rate of adoption over time.
Foundations of Research on Diffusion of Innovations • Ryan and Gross (1943) • Categories of Adopters (relative time of adoption) • Innovators • Early adopters • Early/Late Majorities • Laggards
Opinion Leadership • Opinion leaders are key for influence and thus ability to successfully diffuse an innovation. • Opinion leaders are concentrated among the early adopters, not the innovators.
Stages of Adoption • Everett Rogers (1995) • Awareness • Interest • Evaluation • Trial • Adoption
Categorizing Adopters and Non-Adopters • Adoption: • accept and use innovation • Nonadoption: • nontrial of an innovation • Discontinuance: • rejection of an innovation after it has previously been adopted
N of users Time Epidemic Models • Based on simple examination of “spread” • Simplest version is basic exponential model • Central-source model
N of users Time Epidemic Models (continued) • Modified spread model • Diffusion works through word-of-mouth (i.e., previous users)