Adoption of Innovation and

its model
 Adoption
• Adoption
Decision to make full use of an innovation as the best
course of action available.

• Adoption process (Micro process)

Decision making process, goes through a number of
mental stages before making a final decision to adopt
an innovation.
MODELS OF ADOPTION
PROCESS
 Ryan and Gross (1943)
• Pioneering work of diffusion of hybrid corn seed in
two Iowa communities in the United States
• Ryan and Gross (1943)
Stages in the process of adoption
1. “awareness” of the existence of an innovation
2. “conviction” of usefulness
3. “acceptance” sense of willingness to try the innovation
4. “complete adoption”. full scale use
 Wilkening (1953)
• Adoption of innovation as a process composed of
learning, deciding and acting over a period of time.

• The adoption of a specific practice is not the result of

a single decision to act but series of action and
thought decision.
Four stages in adoption
1. Obtaining information
2. Conviction
3. Trial
4. Adoption.
 (Johnson & Haver, 1955)
• The decision to adopt an innovation,
“is not normally a single, instantaneous act”
• But it is a decision-making process.

• Steps in Decision-Making: (Johnson & Haver, 1955)

1. Observing the problem
2. Analysis
3. Deciding available course of action
4. Taking one course
5. Accepting the consequence
• Central Rural Sociology Subcommittee (1955)

• The North Central Rural Sociology Subcommittee for the

study of Diffusion of Farm Practices (1955) identified 5
stages of the adoption process,
• which received world wide attention.

The stages are:-

1) Awareness
2) Interest
3) Evaluation
4)Trial
5)adoption
STAGES OF ADOPTION PROCESS
 The Stages in the Adoption Process

WHAT HAPPENS
NAME OF EXAMPLE
DURING THIS STAGE
STAGE
farmer is first exposed to Farmer sees an ad for a new hybrid variety
Awareness the product innovation. in the newspaper, radio or television

Farmers is interested in Farmer more reads about the hybrid

the variety and searches variety on the news paper and other
Interest
for additional sources , then goes to a agro center near
information. his farm and meet salesman
Farmer decides whether After talking with a knowledgeable
or not to believe that this friend, relatives ,neighbor farmer decides
product or service will that his variety should be able to provide
Evaluation
satisfy the need--a kind yield than present one and is it suitable
of “mental trial.” for its condition or not with socio-
economical aspects
Table 15.11 The Stages in the Adoption
Process
WHAT HAPPENS
NAME OF EXAMPLE
DURING THIS STAGE
STAGE
Farmers uses the product Farmer take a small sample and grow on
on a limited basis small scale in field .
Trial

If trial is favorable, Farmer finds that the hybrid variety is

farmer decides to use the high yielding and give good yield than
variety on a full, rather present one so the results are excellent;
Adoption
than a limited basis--if consequently, he grow hybrid variety on
(Rejection)
unfavorable, the farmer large scale in his field
decides o reject it.
 Awareness
• The farmer comes to know the existence of the
new idea but he doesn’t have full information
about the idea.
• At this stage farmer is aware of the idea, but lacks
detailed information about it.

• E.g. The farmers may know about hybrid variety by

the name but may not know what it is, detail
knowledge of it and how it give better yield ,
 Interest
• The farmer develops interest in the innovation
• Seeks additional information
• Extension officer or from fellow farmers or from
any source, which he feels credible.
• Acquires more information on innovation
• Farmer wants to know
what the innovation is ?
how it works ?
what are its potentialities ?
 Evaluation
• Mental application of the new idea in the present
and anticipated future situations
• Decides whether or not to try it.
• Judges the utility of the innovation.
• Assessment, whether the idea is applicable to own
situation.
• If applied what would be the result.
 Trial
• Farmers may not take up any new idea at first
instance at large scale because doesn’t want to take
risk

• Farmer applies the new idea on a small scale

• Determine its utility or feasibility & applicability

• Practical evaluation of an innovation.

 Adoption
• If satisfied with the performance of the new idea

• Uses the new idea continuously on a full scale.

• Innovation becomes a part of normal farming activity.

• The farmer takes final decision and applies the

innovation in a scale appropriate to own situation on
a continued basis.
 Limitation of model
• These five stages are not necessarily a rigid pattern
which people follow.
• These stages are influenced by cultural differences and
social factors as well as by the kind of practice, place
and person.
• At any stage the recommendation can be thrown off.
• There can be jumping from one stage to another.
• If the farmers have confidence in the extension worker,
and his recommendations, they may jump form
“evaluation” to “adoption” stage.
 Other model of adoption stages
• The stages of adoption are dynamic and not static.
(Singh, 1965)
• The five stages do not occur with all the adopters
• All the practices sequence is not always the same
• Some times one stage appears more than once
• In some cases some stages are short
• Some stages seem to be skipped
• May jump from evaluation to adoption stage
• No clear-cut differences: capsules and looks like a
unit act.
 SING H & PAREEK (1965)
SEVEN STAAGE MODEL OF ADOPTION
PROCESS

1. Need
2. Awareness
3. Interest
4. Deliberation
5. Trial
6. Evaluation and
7. Adoption.
• NEED:
Difference between what is and what ought to be.
Farmer wishes to change his existing practice or to get
more yield/income.

• AWARENESS:
Farmer just comes to know about an innovation
without knowing the details of it.

• INTEREST:
Farmer makes an attempt to know more about the
innovation.
• DELIBERATION:
Possibility of application of the innovation under
own conditions.
Seeks advice of opinion leaders observe the
performance at different places and discusses with the
members of family.
Farmer then takes a decision to try out or reject the
idea.

• TRIAL:
Puts the practice on a limited scale to observe the
performance under own conditions.
• EVALUATION:
Farmer observes performance of the innovation on
various dimensions.
Collects data on the performance of the
innovation on others situation.
Compares performance of new with old one
Calculates input – output, risks, uncertainties etc.

• ADOPTION:
Farmer takes the decision to extend the use of
the innovation on a continued basis.