Examines adaptation as a dynamic diffusion of innovations process in which adopters change innovations according to their individual needs. Adaptation may be explained by three factors: (a) the differing interpretation of innovation components by individual adopters, (b) an individual's level of adopter innovativeness or readiness to accept change and [c] the generative learning process whereby an individual relates new information prior knowledge and experience. Adaptation may occur unconsciously at the beginning of the diffusion process. Those who study the adaptation process should begin at the initial awareness state when potential adopters are forming their opinions and ideas about an innovation. Author uses an example involving a group of Kalahari bushmen first considering a sample of soft drink that they are told can quench thirst.
Green, D.A.G. (author), Ng'ong'ola, D.H. (author), and Green: Senior Lecturer, University of Wales; Ng'ong'ola: Senior Lecturer, Agricultural Economics, University of Malawi
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1992
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 93 Document Number: C06978
Melkote, S.R. (author), Vallath, C. (author), Ahmed, S.A. (author), and Poornananda, D.C. (author)
Format:
Book chapter
Publication Date:
1992
Published:
India
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 108 Document Number: C10185
Notes:
Book available at University of Chicago Library S494.5C6M45X, In Melkote, S.R., C. Vallath, S.A. Ahmed, D.S. Poornananda, Communicaton gap in development: case studies of T&V projects in south India. Rawat Publications, Jaipur, India.
James F. Evans Collection; Adapted from a presentation entitled "New paradigms for technology transfer" contained in Conference Proceedings, 1992 Symposium for Research in Agricultural and Extension Education; 1992 May; Columbus, OH
Barbosa, Mariza (author), Junior, Raimundo Gomes (author), Strauss, John (author), Teixeira, Sonia (author), Thomas, Duncan (author), and Rand Corporation, Santa Monica, CA; EMBRAPA-SEP, Brasilia, Brazil; EMBRAPA Centro Nacional de Pesquisa de Arroz e Fejao (CNPAF), Goiania, Brazil; Yale University, New Haven, CT; EMBRAPA-SEP, Brasilia, Brazil
Format:
Journal article
Publication Date:
1992-08
Published:
Netherlands
Location:
Agricultural Communications Documentation Center, Funk Library, University of Illinois Box: 87 Document Number: C05924
This paper explores reduced form determinants of the adoption of certain technologies by upland rice and soybean farmers in the Center-West region of Brazil. We merge community level data on the availability and quality of publicly provided infrastructure, principally extension, to the farm level data containing information on farmer human capital as well as land quantity and quality. By using community level measures of availability and quality of extension, we avoid problems of endogeneity of farm level measures of extension use. We find positive impacts of farmer education on the diffusion process, in accordance with other studies. We also isolate effects of the quality in regional extension investment as measured by the average experience of technical extension staff. These results indicate that investments in human capital of extension workers does have a payoff in terms of farmer adoption of improved cultivation practices.
