Term Definitions From Chapter 9, Interpersonal Communications

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adopter categories

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classification of individuals or other decision-making units by their rate of adoption of an innovation. The five categories are innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority, and laggards

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change agent

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a professional person who attempts to influence adoption

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compatibility

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from Rogers(1995) the degree to which an innovation is perceived as being consistent with the existing values, past experiences, and needs of potential adopters

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confirmation

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the 5th stage of the innovation decision process: reinforcement or reversal of the innovation decision made

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consequences

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the changes that occur to an individual or to a social system as a result of the adoption or rejection of an innovation,

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Cosmopolite

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the term used for communication channels from outside the social system being investigated

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decision

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the third stage of the innovation decision process: activity resulting in a choice to adopt or reject tje innovation in a direction that he or she feels is desirability

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diffusion

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widening communication of a new idea; a special type of communication concerned with the spread of innovations

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diffusion research

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the study of social processes of how innovations become known and are spread throughout a social system

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heterophily

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the degree to which pairs of individuals who interact are different in certain attributes

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homophily

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the degree to which pairs of individuals who interact are similar in certain attributes such as beliefs, values, education, or social status

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implementation

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the 4th stage of the innovation decision process: putting the innovations to use

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innovation

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Rogers-"an idea, practice, or object that is percieved as new by an individual

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knowledge

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first stage of innovation decision process

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localite

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the term used to describe commnication channels from inside the social system being investigated

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media forums

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organized small groups individuals who meet regularly to receive a mass media broadcast, program, or print and then discuss its content

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observability

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from Rogers, the degree to which the results of an innovation are visible to others

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persuasion

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the 2nd stage of innovation decision process: formation of an attitude

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relative advantage

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from Rogers, the degree to which an innovation is percieved as better than the idea it supersedes

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trialability

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from Rogers, the degree to which an innovation may be experimented with on a limited basis