Faculty perceptions about attributes and barriers impacting diffusion of web-based distance education (WBDE) at the China Agricultural University

he purpose of this study was to examine faculty perceptions about attributes and barriers impacting diffusion of Web-based distance education (WBDE) at the China Agricultural University (CAU). Random and stratified sampling was used and 273 faculty participated in the study. About 70% of participants stayed in early stages in the innovation-decision process related to WBDE (no knowledge, knowledge, or persuasion) and about 30% were in later stages (decision or implementation). Faculty members' stage differed significantly by professional area, level of education, teaching experience, and distance education experience. Gender, age, and academic rank had no significant influence on faculty members' stage. CAU faculty tended to agree with the existence of the five attributes of WBDE (relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability). Professional area, gender, age, level of education, and academic rank had no significant influence on the five perceived attributes. Teaching experience had no significant influence on the five perceived attributes, except compatibility. Distance education experience had no significant influence on the five perceived attributes, except compatibility and observability. CAU faculty perceived ten factors (concerns about time, concerns about incentives, WBDE program credibility, financial concerns, planning issues, conflict with traditional education, fear of technology, technical expertise, administrative support, and infrastructure) as moderate barriers to diffusion of WBDE. Age, level of education, academic rank, and teaching experience had no significant influence on faculty perception about the ten barriers. Professional area and gender had no significant influence on faculty perception about the ten barriers, except concerns about time. Distance education experience had no significant influence on faculty perception about the ten barriers, except conflict with traditional education. Faculty members' stage in the innovation-decision process had no significant influence on faculty perceptions about relative advantage of WBDE and nine of the ten barriers. Faculty members' stage in the innovation-decision process, however, did have a significant impact on faculty perception about compatibility, complexity, trialability, observability of WBDE, and WBDE program credibility as a perceived barrier. Relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, and trialability were correlated with at least one of the ten barriers. Observability was not related with any of the barriers

Faculty perceptions about attributes and barriers impacting the adoption and diffusion of Web-Based Educational Technologies (WBETs) at the University of Cape Coast and the University of Ghana, Legon

The purpose of this study was to determine faculty perceptions about factors impacting the adoption and diffusion of Web-Based Educational Technologies (WBETs) at the University of Cape Coast and the University of Ghana, Legon. This study, based on Rogersâ theory of adoption and diffusion, is a modified replication of a study by Li (2004), in the context of Ghana. Data were collected with a modified instrument created by Li (2004), from 61 teaching faculty out of a target accessible population of 200. The instrument comprised of four sections: The first, was used to collect data about faculty stage in the innovation development process. The second was used to collect data describing five attributes (relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, and observability) impacting the adoption and diffusion of WBETs. The third was used to collect data about ten barriers (concerns about time, concerns about incentives, program credibility, financial concerns, planning issues, conflict with traditional education, fear of technology, technical expertise, administrative support, and infrastructure) impacting the adoption and diffusion of WBETs. The fourth section was used to collect data on personal characteristics of the faculty. Descriptive, correlational and regression analyses were used to examine relationships between faculty personal characteristics, stage in the innovation-decision process, and perceptions of attributes and barriers impacting the adoption and diffusion of WBETs. From the descriptive results, respondents perceived âÂÂrelative advantageâ and âÂÂobservabilityâ as the two most important attributes that impact the adoption and diffusion of WBETs. Infrastructure, financial concerns, and technical expertise were perceived as posing moderate to strong barriers to the adoption and diffusion of WBETs. Only compatibility (attribute) and technical expertise (barrier) had statistically significant correlations with faculty stage in the innovation decision process. The attributes and barriers altogether explained only 10.6% and 17.3% respectively of faculty stage in the innovation-decision process. Of the eight personal characteristics examined, only âÂÂexperience with WBETsâ had a statistically significant correlation with faculty stage in the innovation-decision process. Recommendations to administrators and policy makers include allocating investments and resources that promote attributes and eliminate barriers, and conduct further research into factors that affect the adoption and diffusion of WBETs

Examination of Oklahoma Agricultural Educators' Innovativeness and Perceptions Regarding the Mandated Adoption and Use of the Agricultural Experience Tracker

Record keeping has been long regarded as an essential skill related to the success of students' supervised agricultural experience (SAE) programs. Following the integration of computers in school-based agricultural education (SBAE), several electronic, record keeping mediums entered the marketplace. Despite its increasing prominence, The Agricultural Experience Tracker (the AET) has been narrowly researched, and no literature regarding its diffusion or adoption presently exists. As such, this study served to address this paucity of literature by examining this phenomenon through the lens of Rogers' (2003) diffusion of innovations theory. The two-fold purpose of this study was to 1) describe the relationships between the innovativeness of SBAE programs in Oklahoma and the perceptions of SBAE teachers regarding diffusion of the AET; 2) predict the innovativeness of SBAE programs in Oklahoma from SBAE teachers' selected personal and professional characteristics and perceptions regarding diffusion of the AET. This study was descriptive, predictive, and correlational in nature, and employed a cross-sectional, survey design. Prior to data collection and in accord with Rogers' (2003) conventions, every SBAE program in Oklahoma was categorized by innovativeness regarding adoption and use of the AET. From the findings, it was concluded that the SBAE programs with older and/or more experienced teachers were more innovative than those with younger and/or less experienced teachers. Collectively, SBAE teachers in Oklahoma considered the AET to be complex. However, in addition to perceiving the AET as being less relatively advantageous and compatible, the SBAE teachers with more years of experience considered the AET to be less complex than those with fewer years of experience. Time-related concerns were identified as a strong barrier to SBAE teachers' adoption and use of the AET. Finally, using hierarchical, block regression analysis, a predictive model for SBAE program innovativeness was developed, with the third model explaining a total of 26% of the variance in SBAE program innovativeness. Targeted, in-service training opportunities are recommended in the areas of use and navigation of the AET, financial accounting, and time management. Further investigation of the AET's diffusion is recommended in other states, as well as in both mandated and voluntary use contexts.Agricultural Educatio

Examining eXtension: Diffusion, Disruption, and Adoption Among Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Professionals

As eXtension unveils its new membership model, Iowa State University Extension and Outreach must determine how best to support professionals and clientele using the technology. This article reports on a study that used the diffusion of innovations and disruptive innovation theories to assess Iowa Extension professionals\u27 adoption and perceptions of eXtension. One quarter of Iowa Extension professionals had no knowledge of eXtension, and 25% of respondents reported using the technology. Respondents perceived that eXtension exhibits a relative advantage and some of the attributes—accessibility and capacity—needed to become a disruptive innovation. These findings provide a basis for studying disruptive innovations in Cooperative Extension

Characteristics and barriers impacting the diffusion of e-extension among Texas Cooperative Extension County Extension agents

The overall purpose of this study was to understand the influence of selected factors on the adoption of eXtension by Texas Cooperative Extension County Extension agents. Specifically, the study looked at how the relationships between stage in the innovation-decision process, characteristics of agents, characteristics of the innovation, and barriers to adoption affect the diffusion of eXtension. A random sample of 237 agents was selected for participation in the study. A majority of agents reported they were in the knowledge stage (52%); 31% had no knowledge of the innovation; 8% were in the implementation stage; 3% were in the persuasion stage; 3% were in the decision stage and 2% were in the confirmation stage. Respondents had positive perceptions of relative advantage, compatibility, complexity and trialability as those characteristics related to eXtension. They had the most positive perceptions of complexity. They did not perceive eXtension to have a high degree of observability. Agents perceived at least five barriers existed to the adoption of eXtension. Reducing or eliminating these barriers, particularly the barrier related to concerns about time, would be expected to positively affect the rate of adoption. Agents’ perceptions of complexity and compatibility significantly differed by primary agent role and gender, respectively. The differences may be attributable to varying job experiences based upon role and gender. Agents’ perceptions of a lack of eXtension incentives significantly differed by education. Significant relationships existed between selected characteristics of eXtension and potential barriers to the adoption of eXtension. Based on the findings, offering monetary incentives may increase the rate of adoption, and decrease agents’ financial concerns. Significantly more respondents reported they were in the “no knowledge” stage in the innovation-decision than would be expected to occur by chance. Agents may have ignored repeated messages about eXtension because it was not perceived as consistent with their attitudes and beliefs. This implication should be noted by those hoping to increase the diffusion of eXtension. On a broader level, these findings support expanding the model of the innovation-decision process to include the “no knowledge” stage

Impact of Innovations Attributes on e-learning Acceptance among Sri Lankan Postgraduate Students

Though e learning is gaining much popularity in Sri Lanka, the actual and potential users of e-learning facilities possess different perceptions towards the acceptance of e-learning technology. As e learning is considered to be an innovative method for the users, the Diffusion of Innovation theory identifies five attributes of innovation namely relative advantage, compatibility, complexity, trialability, observability which impact on the attitude and intention of using e- learning by the users. Therefore examining the impact of innovation attributes on e learning acceptance in Sri Lankan postgraduates is more relevant as it helps to acquire the knowledge on how e learning acceptance is perceived by them. For this purpose random samples of 200 were drawn from the postgraduate students in local based universities in Sri Lanka and it was found that observability and relative advantage has a significant impact on attitude and intention of using e learning among the postgraduate students while least significant innovation attributes were found to be complexity and trialability.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/kjm.v2i1.6541 Kelaniya Journal of Management Vol.2(1) 2013:1-17</p

Drivers of farmers’ adoption of hermetic storage bags in Ghana

Post-harvest loss is a global challenge due to its serious threat to food security. Hermetic storage bags offer one way to combat the loss of food after harvest. The rate at which farmers adopt hermetic bags largely depends upon their access to information and training about the technology. The adoption of hermetic storage bags in Dormaa, Ghana, was the focus of this quantitative cross-sectional research study. This study sought to describe maize farmers’ perceptions of the hermetic storage bags in Dormaa, Ghana, based on the perceived innovation attributes and to ascertain farmers’ stages of adoption of the hermetic storage bags using Rogers’s (2003) innovation-decision model. A multistage systematic sampling technique was used to survey 217 maize farmers in four communities where maize production was the main economic activity. Data indicated that the largest group of farmers were at the confirmation stage of Rogers’ model. The logistic regression model was used to ascertain the influence of the innovation attributes on adoption. The findings reveal that of the five innovation characteristics, relative advantage, compatibility, and complexity are the key and significant drivers of the adoption of hermetic storage bags, with relative advantage and compatibility increasing the adoption likelihood and complexity reducing it. The study, therefore, recommends that communities lagging behind others in adoption should be targeted for additional training

Examining e-extension: diffusion, disruption, and rate of adoption among Iowa State University Extension and Outreach professionals

The purpose of this study was to assess the perceptions of eXtension held by Iowa Extension professionals and their rate of adoption of the online resource using Rogers\u27s (2003) diffusion of innovations theory and Christensen\u27s (1997) disruptive innovation theory. Specifically, the study looked at Iowa Extension professionals\u27 perceptions and stage of adoption of eXtension. The study also examined the relationship among Iowa Extension professionals\u27 background characteristics and their perceptions of the online resource in addition to whether respondents\u27 perceptions of eXtension predicted stage of adoption. A census survey was disseminated to 975 Iowa State University Extension and Outreach professionals. A final response rate of 44% (n=429) was obtained and included the respondents from the pilot study. The highest number of respondents reported that they were familiar with eXtension--persuasion stage and third stage of adoption (n=139, 32.63%). One quarter of the respondents remained at the no knowledge stage of eXtension (n=109, 25.59%), 16% of respondents were at the knowledge stage (n=68), less than 1% were at the decision stage (n=3), 15% were at the implementation stage (n=65), and 10% were at the highest stage of confirmation (n=42). 75% of Iowa Extension professionals indicated have made a decision to use or not use eXtension in their work. Respondents were shown to have more favorable perceptions of eXtension\u27s perceived relative advantage, accessibility and capacity attributes, while the compatibility, complexity, observability, trialability, affordability, responsiveness, and customization attributes were neutrally perceived. In addition, eXtension was perceived to exhibit only two of the disruptive innovation attributes (accessibility and capacity). The technology was perceived to lack the degree of affordability, responsiveness and customization needed to become a disruptive innovation. As respondents\u27 age, educational attainment and years of employment in Cooperative Extension increased, their perceived trialability of eXtension was also shown to increase. In addition, the perceived attributes of eXtension explained 26% of the variance in membership at one of two levels of adoption--the higher level of adoption or lower level of awareness. The complexity, trialability and customization attributes were shown to have a statistically significant influence on predicting the odds of attaining the higher level of adoption of eXtension

An investigation of factors affecting Omani faculty members' adoption of information and computing technology.

The purpose of this study was to explore the factors influencing information and computing technology (ICT) adoption for Omani faculty members from a framework of Rogers' theory of diffusion of innovation. Three hundred Omani faculty members from Sultan Qaboos University (SQU) participated in the study. The survey consisted of five parts: (a) an 18-item questionnaire on ICT uses and skills, (b) a 1-item questionnaire on adopter category, (c) a 44-item self-constructed questionnaire on perception of barriers to adopting ICT, (d) a 50-item questionnaire on ICT attributes adapted from Moore and Benbasat, and (e) a 15-item questionnaire on demographic and job-related variables. Descriptive statistics indicated that the faculty members overall used ICT at the "Sometimes" level and had ICT skills at the "Intermediate" level. The most frequently used and skillful ICT functional areas were Website browsing, Internet search engine, and word processing. One-way ANOVAs found significant group differences of ICT uses and skills, perception of barriers, and perception of ICT attributes in the category of adopter. Early adopters used ICT more, had higher ICT skills, perceived fewer barriers in the adopting process, and recognized higher values of ICT attributes than later adopters did. Multiple regression analysis showed the level of ICT uses could be predicted by ICT skills, adopter category, perception of barriers, ICT attributes, and the selected demographic and job-rated background variables, to a large magnitude with an adjusted R2 value of .70. The level of ICT skills was the most salient predictor. Perception of ICT attributes and the number of traditional classes taught appeared to be important as well. Results supported Rogers' theory at the macro level but not at the micro level

Characteristics and Barriers Impacting the Diffusion of Facebook among Smallholder Farmers in Central Taiwan

Social media helps farmers located in geographically isolated rural areas stay connected to the world. Social media is an effective tool used in extension services and mass/distance education. Facebook is a successful social network site for information gathering and sharing. In Taiwan, Facebook's penetration rate is higher than in any other Asian country. The purpose of this study was to determine the influences of selected factors on the adoption of Facebook by Taiwanese smallholder farmers. The study examined the relationships between characteristics of smallholder farmers, innovation characteristics, stage in the innovation-decision process, and potential barriers to the adoption of Facebook. A descriptive and correlational research design was used for this study. Three hundred and fifty one smallholder farmers participated in the survey. Nearly half of the responding farmers were at the stage of “implementation.” Sixteen respondents were at stage of “confirmation.” Ninety-seven respondents were at the stage of “knowledge.” Thirty respondents were at the stage of “no knowledge.” Most respondents had Facebook accounts. The most common usages of Facebook were to connect with friends, receive agricultural information, read daily news and information, share daily life stories with others, and share professional knowledge with others. Nearly half of respondents with Facebook accounts used Facebook for farm marketing purposes. Respondents held positive perceptions of relative advantage, compatibility, trialability, observability and low complexity as characteristics of Facebook. Respondents held neutral perceptions regarding technology concerns, financial concerns, concerns about time, planning issues, and concern about incentives for the adoption of Facebook. The respondents were significantly different in perception of Facebook based on years of farming experience, gender, age, education, and income. Responding farmers also expressed significant differences between their perceptions of potential barriers by years of farming experience, farm size, gender, age, education level, and income status. Significant negative relationships existed between smallholder farmers’ perceptions of Facebook and potential barriers to Facebook. Trialability, planning issues, relative advantage, compatibility, observability, education, complexity, technology concerns, and age served as powerful predictors of respondents’ stages in the innovation-decision process