Deck 9: Diffusion of Innovations

Question 1

In the hybrid seed corn study, when the cumulative number of farmers adopting the hybrid corn was plotted against time, it formed a(n):

A) bell-shaped curve.
B) S-shaped curve.
C) W-shaped curve.
D) M-shaped curve.

Answer 1

B

Question 2

The book The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference was written by:

A) Everett Rogers.
B) Gabriel Tarde.
C) Neal Gross.
D) Malcolm Gladwell.

Answer 2

D

Question 3

People who are deliberate, highly connected within a peer system, and ahead of the average fall into which category of adopters?

A) Innovator
B) Early adopter
C) Early majority
D) Laggard

Answer 3

C

Question 4

The hallmark of diffusion of innovations theory is that it deals with dissemination of old and new ideas and their adoption by people.

Question 5

An acronym for dissemination of the diffusion of innovations theory in public health organizations is:

A) FOCUS.
B) FORESIGHT.
C) FOMENT.
D) FORETHOUGHT.

Question 6

The degree to which a potential adopter can adapt, refine, or modify an innovation to suit his or her needs is known as:

A) demonstrability.
B) compatibility.
C) complexity.
D) reinvention.

Question 7

In diffusion of innovations, it does not matter how long an idea, practice, or product has been around. What matters is that the person who is adopting it perceives it as new.

Question 8

Statement A: The hallmark of diffusion of innovations theory is that it deals with dissemination of any idea and its adoption by people.
Statement B: Diffusion of innovations theory is a tool for social change.

A) Statement A is true and statement B is false.
B) Statement A is false and statement B is true.
C) Both statements are true.
D) Both statements are false.

Question 9

Which of the following is not a step for applying the diffusion of innovations theory for health programming?

A) Identifying the program population
B) Applying a predetermined approach
C) Identifying intermediary networks
D) Identifying opinion leaders in the intermediary networks

Question 10

The degree to which an innovation requires changes or adjustments by other elements in the social system is known as:

A) demonstrability.
B) reversibility.
C) pervasiveness.
D) reinvention.

Question 11

The hybrid seed corn study was conducted by:

A) Georg Simmel.
B) Everett Rogers.
C) Gabriel Tarde.
D) Bryce Ryan.

Question 12

Innovations that reflect a relatively small improvement over previous products are known as:

A) distinctive innovations.
B) breakthrough innovations.
C) incremental innovations.
D) relative innovations.

Question 13

In the hybrid corn study, when the cumulative number of farmers adopting the hybrid corn was plotted against time, it formed a bell-shaped curve.

Question 14

Which communication channel is most helpful in persuading a potential adopter?

A) Mass media
B) Interpersonal
C) Interactive
D) Social media

Question 15

An individual who influences a potential adopter's decision about innovation in a favorable way is called a(n):

A) opinion leader.
B) change agent.
C) adopter influencer.
D) adviser.

Question 16

Demonstrability refers to a perception about an innovation's consistency with the values, past experiences, and needs of potential adopters.

Question 17

The tangible and intangible expenses incurred in the adoption of a new idea, practice, or product are known as:

A) perceived relative advantage.
B) demonstrability.
C) reinvention.
D) costs.

Question 18

All of the following are limitations of the diffusion of innovations theory in health promotion and education, except:

A) People are already knowledgeable about the issue and have often tried the behavior.
B) Interventions are preventive in nature, whereby the individual has to adopt the new idea today to avoid the likelihood of a negative consequence from occurring at a later date.
C) The diffusion process occurs more easily and smoothly in wealthier and highly educated people, which is the usual target population for health education.
D) An innovation should be diffused and adopted by all members and in a rapid manner without rejection or reinvention.

Question 19

The new idea, object, or practice that is to be adopted is known as:

A) diffusion.
B) innovation.
C) novelty.
D) modernism.

Question 20

Reinvention refers to the ability and degree to which the status quo can be reinstated by ceasing to use the innovation.

Question 21

Demonstrability refers to the degree to which a potential adopter can adapt, refine, or modify the innovation to suit his or her needs.

Question 22

Interpersonal channels are especially helpful in persuading a potential adopter.

Question 23

Adopter categories refer to the S-shaped distribution of how people adopt an innovation.

Question 24

Innovators by nature are adventurous, cosmopolitan, have geographically dispersed contacts, are high risk takers, and have high tolerance of uncertainty and failure.

Question 25

Statement A: A change agent is an individual who influences a potential adopter's decision about innovation in a favorable way.
Statement B: Opinion leaders are individuals who are influential in a community and sway the beliefs and actions of their colleagues only in a positive direction.

A) Statement A is true and statement B is false.
B) Statement A is false and statement B is true.
C) Both statements are true.
D) Both statements are false.

Question 26

What should be considered while developing communication channels?

A) Innovation-decision process
B) Role of adoption
C) Mass media
D) Adopter categories

Question 27

What should be considered while developing the social system in diffusion of innovations theory?

A) Homophily
B) Role of adoption
C) Mass media
D) Adopter categories

Question 28

What should not be done while developing the innovation in diffusion of innovations theory?

A) Increase perceived relative advantage
B) Increase complexity
C) Increase compatibility
D) Minimize costs

Question 29

Sociologists Bryce Ryan and Neal Gross used the theory of diffusion to explain which of the following?

A) How farmers made decisions on where to plant a crop
B) Why a limited number of farmers failed to use a new idea
C) Length of time it takes to adopt a new program
D) What group will be more responsive to a new program

Question 30

Immunizations program interventions developed to increase immunizations in a community use the diffusion innovations theory.

Question 31

Which of the following describes the diffusion innovation attribute of clarity of results?

A) After the class all students wear bicycle helmets.
B) Program speakers were knowledgeable about the topic.
C) Students participated in a lively discussion.
D) The group is considering a mountain climb.

Question 32

Adopting a global awareness of the dangers of alcohol use would best be facilitated first through the Internet followed by television advertising.

Question 33

Most of the published studies on the diffusion of innovations theory use:

A) cross-sectional surveys of adopters.
B) historical research.
C) case studies.
D) interviews done throughout the innovation process.

Question 34

The diffusion of innovations theory is applicable mainly in health education.

Question 35

According to sociologist Rogers, which of the following could prevent pro-innovation bias in using the innovations theory?

A) Finalize the research before product implementation
B) Conduct research during adoption of idea
C) Use of only the successful ideas
D) Selecting specific groups to adopt the product

Question 36

When a change agent has been identified, a new program will easily diffuse into the community.

Question 37

The process by which a new idea, object, or practice filters through various channels in a community over time is known as:

A) diffusion.
B) transmission.
C) filtering.
D) channeling.

Question 38

The origins of diffusion of innovations theory can be traced back to the book Laws of Imitation, which was written by:

A) Georg Simmel.
B) Clark Wissler.
C) Gabriel Tarde.
D) Everett Rogers.

Question 39

Diffusion of innovations theory in public health, health promotion, and health education began with applications in:

A) immunization and family planning campaigns.
B) HIV/AIDS prevention.
C) tobacco prevention.
D) binge drinking prevention.

Question 40

Innovations that are based on new technology or approach are called incremental innovations.

Question 41

Innovations that represent a significant improvement but do not entail any new technology or approach are known as:

A) distinctive innovations.
B) breakthrough innovations.
C) incremental innovations.
D) relative innovations.

Question 42

All of the following are steps in the innovation decision process, except:

A) gaining knowledge about the innovation.
B) getting persuaded about the innovation.
C) putting the innovation to use.
D) disseminating the innovation to others.

Question 43

How similar the group members are in a social system is known as:

A) identicalness.
B) equivalence.
C) similitude.
D) homophily.

Question 44

Perceived relative advantage refers to a perception about how much better a new product, idea, or practice is compared with the one it will replace.

Question 45

The perception about how much better the new product, idea, or practice is than the one it will replace is known as its:

A) perceived relative advantage.
B) compatibility.
C) complexity.
D) clarity of results.

Question 46

Disseminating information on the results of an innovation and making the innovation more visible help to establish:

A) demonstrability.
B) perceived relative advantage.
C) clarity of results.
D) reversibility.