EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY (0710); SOCIOLOGY, THEORY AND METHODS (0344); EDUCATION, HIGHER (0745); EDUCATION, ADMINISTRATION (0514)
 

                         Identifying predictors of computer use such as attitude, anxiety, and receptivity to change have been the
                         primary area of interest in instructional technology. Research relating to the diffusion of innovations in
                         education has been based primarily on looking at these individual characteristics as predictors of use.
                         This dissertation proposes to use social network analysis to study the diffusion of two computer-based
                         administrative innovations within a university faculty network. Methodology issues concerning time of
                         adoption and network nominations were examined as well as the relationship of time of adoption and the
                         number of network nominations received, spatial proximity, and organizational unit proximity. Finally, the
                         diffusion of the innovations was to be analyzed using the dual-classification and T/CM models. Subjects
                         were 66 faculty members in a College in Education from a southwestern university during the 1996-1997
                         academic year. At the beginning of the study subjects were introduced to the innovations and asked to
                         provide demographic information and to identify communication partners in the areas of advice,
                         friendship, and discussion. At the conclusion of the study subjects were asked to provide feed back
                         related to the innovations and to once again identify their communication partners in the areas of advice,
                         friendship, and discussion. Results indicated that there was no significant difference between adopters
                         recall time of adoption and actual time of adoption. In addition, there was no significant difference
                         between network nominations for advice, friendship, and discussion identified at the beginning and at
                         the end of the study. The number of network nominations received was found to be negatively
                         correlated with the time of adoption. No correlation was found between time of adoption and spatial and
                         organizational unit proximity. The diffusion process could not be studied, because the necessary
                         threshold and critical mass levels were not reached. The innovations did not diffuse through the network.
                         The lack of diffusion could be explained by the negative correlation between the number of network
                         nominations received and the time of adoption as well as by comments faculty submitted related to the
                         innovations and a graphical representation of the social network with the nodes of adopters shaded.

Social Systems Simulation Group P.O. Box 6904 San Diego, CA  92166-0904 Roland Werner, Principal Phone/FAX  (619) 660-1603