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ARD503Agricultural Sciences3 Unitsintermediate

Diffusion And Adoption Of Innovations

This course introduces the processes of diffusion, adoption, and innovation. It explores the characteristics of innovation, rates of adoption, and adopter categories. The course also examines the roles of opinion leaders and change agents in facilitating effective agricultural extension in rural areas. Students will learn to apply theoretical formulations to understand the diffusion of innovations and their implications.

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208h
Study Time
13
Weeks
16h
Per Week
none
Math Level
Course Keywords
DiffusionAdoptionInnovationExtensionAgriculture

Course Overview

Everything you need to know about this course

Course Difficulty

Intermediate Level
Builds on foundational knowledge
65%
intermediate
📚
Math Level
No Math
🔬
Learning Type
Hands-on Practice

Course Topics

Key areas covered in this course

1

Diffusion process

2

Adoption process

3

Innovation characteristics

4

Opinion leadership

5

Change agents

6

Agricultural extension

7

Innovation models

Total Topics7 topics

Ready to Start

No specific requirements needed

This course is designed to be accessible to all students. You can start immediately without any prior knowledge or specific preparation.

Assessment Methods

How your progress will be evaluated (2 methods)

tutor-marked assignments

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

final examination

Comprehensive evaluation of course material understanding

Written Assessment

Career Opportunities

Explore the career paths this course opens up for you

Extension Officer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Agricultural Consultant

Apply your skills in this growing field

Rural Development Officer

Apply your skills in this growing field

Policy Maker

Apply your skills in this growing field

Project Manager

Apply your skills in this growing field

Industry Applications

Real-world sectors where you can apply your knowledge

AgricultureRural DevelopmentGovernmentNon-profit OrganizationsConsulting

Study Schedule Beta

A structured 13-week journey through the course content

Week
1

Unit 1: Definition of Diffusion, Innovation and Adoption

1.5h

Unit 1: Definition of Diffusion, Innovation and Adoption

1.5 study hours
  • •Read Unit 1: Understand the definitions of diffusion, innovation, and adoption.
  • •Differentiate between diffusion and adoption processes.
  • •Reflect on examples of diffusion and adoption in your local community.
Week
2

Unit 2: Elements of diffusion

1.5h

Unit 2: Elements of diffusion

1.5 study hours
  • •Read Unit 2: Identify the four main elements of diffusion: innovation, communication channels, time, and social system.
  • •Analyze the role of each element in the adoption of innovations.
  • •Consider how communication channels can be optimized to promote innovation adoption.
Week
3

Unit 3: Process of adoption

1.5h

Unit 3: Process of adoption

1.5 study hours
  • •Read Unit 3: Understand the stages involved in the adoption process: awareness, interest, evaluation, trial, and adoption.
  • •Discuss the activities and considerations at each stage.
  • •Reflect on how these stages apply to real-world adoption scenarios.
Week
4

Unit 4: Diffusion of innovation

1.5h

Unit 4: Diffusion of innovation

1.5 study hours
  • •Read Unit 4: Explain the concept of diffusion process of innovation.
  • •Discuss the stages involved in diffusion of innovation: innovators, early adopters, late adopters, and laggards.
  • •Analyze the factors that influence the rate of diffusion.
Week
5

Unit 5: Innovation Model

1.5h

Unit 5: Innovation Model

1.5 study hours
  • •Read Unit 5: Explain the different types of innovation models, including the linear model.
  • •Understand the roles of generation, transfer, and application of innovations.
  • •Compare and contrast different innovation models.
Week
6

Unit 6: The innovation decision process

1.5h

Unit 6: The innovation decision process

1.5 study hours
  • •Read Unit 6: Explain the innovation-decision making process.
  • •Discuss the stages of the innovation-decision process: knowledge, persuasion, decision, implementation, and confirmation.
  • •Analyze how individuals evaluate and decide whether to adopt an innovation.
Week
7

Unit 7: Characteristics of innovation

1.5h

Unit 7: Characteristics of innovation

1.5 study hours
  • •Read Unit 7: Identify the characteristics of innovation that influence adoption.
  • •Discuss the roles of relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, observability, divisibility and accessibility.
  • •Analyze how these characteristics affect the rate of adoption.
Week
8

Unit 8: Factors Determining the Rates of Adoption

1.5h

Unit 8: Factors Determining the Rates of Adoption

1.5 study hours
  • •Read Unit 8: Explain the concept of adoption rates.
  • •Discuss the factors determining the adoption rates, including perceived characteristics, type of innovation-decision, communication channels, and social system.
  • •Analyze how these factors influence the speed of adoption.
Week
9

Unit 9: Adopter categories

1.5h

Unit 9: Adopter categories

1.5 study hours
  • •Read Unit 9: Discuss different types of people in every community based on their reaction to changes.
  • •Explain the characteristics of different adopters categories: innovators, early adopters, early majority, late majority and laggards.
  • •Differentiate between concepts pertaining to adoption among people.
Week
10

Unit 10: Opinion leadership

1.5h

Unit 10: Opinion leadership

1.5 study hours
  • •Read Unit 10: Explain the concept of opinion leaders.
  • •Discuss the characteristics of opinion leaders, including external communication, accessibility, socio-economic status, innovativeness, and conformity to system norms.
  • •Analyze the role of opinion leaders in adoption of innovation.
Week
11

Unit 11: Change agents

1.5h

Unit 11: Change agents

1.5 study hours
  • •Read Unit 11: Define change agents.
  • •Discuss the functions of change agents in adoption of innovation.
  • •Analyze the characteristics and reasons for the change agents.
Week
12

Unit 12: Theoretical formulations on the diffusion of innovations

1.5h

Unit 12: Theoretical formulations on the diffusion of innovations

1.5 study hours
  • •Read Unit 12: Examine the formulation of theory on diffusion.
  • •Discuss the four theories on the diffusion of innovation: innovation decision process, individual innovativeness, rate of adoption, and perceived attributes.
  • •Analyze the contribution of Everett Rogers to diffusion of innovation.
Week
13

Unit 13: Sectors related to differential rates of adoption of new agricultural technology

3h

Unit 13: Sectors related to differential rates of adoption of new agricultural technology

1.5 study hours
  • •Read Unit 13: Explain the concept of sectorial Differential Rates of Adoption of New Agricultural Technology.
  • •Discuss the organizational factors that promote and inhibit successful technological implementation and adoption.
  • •Analyze the importance of agricultural technology adaptation and appropriateness.

Unit 14: Implication of these Innovation-Decisions

1.5 study hours
  • •Review all course materials and assignments.
  • •Prepare for final examination.

This study schedule is in beta and may not be accurate. Please use it as a guide and consult the course outline for the most accurate information.

Course PDF Material

Read the complete course material as provided by NOUN.

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Study Tips & Exam Preparation

Expert tips to help you succeed in this course

1

Create concept maps linking diffusion, adoption, and innovation processes.

2

Review case studies of successful and unsuccessful innovation adoptions.

3

Focus on the characteristics of different adopter categories and their roles.

4

Practice applying theoretical formulations to real-world scenarios.

5

Summarize the key functions of opinion leaders and change agents.

6

Review all Tutor Marked Assignments (TMAs) and feedback provided by your tutor.

7

Allocate study time proportionally based on the weight of each module in the final exam.

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