Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

Reforms and Innovation in Education pp 11–36Cite as

Educational Innovation Diffusion: Confronting Complexities

  • Chapter
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Science, Technology and Innovation Studies ((STAIS))

Abstract

In order to test Rogers’ (2003) linear and temporal arrangement of innovation diffusion variables in educational contexts, I constructed a Diffusion of Innovations in Education Model (DIEM, Warford 2005). The DIEM, as depicted on page 23 of the article, arranges aspects of educational innovation diffusion from antecedent (background) variables to process dimensions centering on the decision to adopt, and it culminates with consequences variables, which determine either the ultimate rejection or confirmation of the decision to adopt an innovation. This model obviously owes a debt to Rogers, who brought the field from which the model’s name was derived (Diffusion of Innovations) into the social sciences from the field of agriculture (Ryan and Gross 1943). Henrichsen’s (1989) adapted Diffusion of Innovations (DoI) model, which integrated cross-cultural diffusion variables, was also a major influence. The core of the DIEM, however, was informed by a parallel but otherwise ignored strain of diffusion research within the field of education, one that actually preceded Rogers’ rise as the patriarch of DoI.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   119.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   159.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Abdelrehim, S. (2014). The diffusion of edublogs among educators in Egypt. Egypt: American University in Cairo.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bourdieu, P. (1986). The forms of capital. In J. G. Richardson (Ed.), Handbook for theory and research in the sociology of education (pp. 241–258). New York: Greenwood Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Campbell, B. G. (2015). Diffusion of innovations of videoconference technology: An instrumental case study concerning undergraduate degree-seeking nontraditional learners. Doctoral dissertation, Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved NSUWorks, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education. http://nsuworks.nova.edu/fse_etd/5

  • Carlson, R. O. (1968, March). Summary and critique of educational diffusion research. In research implications for educational diffusion. Major papers presented at the National Conference on Diffusion of Educational Ideas (pp. 4–23). Michigan Vocational Education Research Coordinating Unit, East Lansing, Michigan (ERIC Document Reproduction Service NO. ED 026 535).

    Google Scholar 

  • Creswell, J. W. (2008). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivations: Classic definitions and new directions. Contemporary Educational Psychology, 25, 54–67.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dörnyei, Z. (2008). Are individual differences really individual? Keynote address delivered at the annual meeting of the American Association for Applied Linguistics, Washington, DC.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dörnyei, Z. (2014). Researching complex dynamic systems: ‘Retrodictive qualitative modelling’ in the language classroom. Language Teaching, 47(1), 80–91.

    Google Scholar 

  • Durlak, J. A., & DuPre, E. P. (2008). Implementation matters: A review of research on the influence of implementation on program outcomes and the factors affecting implementation. American Journal of Community Psychology, 41, 327–350.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flick, U. (2007). Managing quality in qualitative research. London: Sage.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Frank, K. A., Zhao, Y., & Borman, K. B. (2004). Social capital and the diffusion of innovations within organizations: The case of computer technology in schools. Sociology of Education, 77, 148–171.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fullan, M. (2007). The new meaning of educational change (4th ed.). New York: Teachers College Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Garleja, R., & Skvorcova, E. (2008, May). Innovations in education and its role in preparing qualified participants. Fifth International Scientific Conference on Business and Management, Vilnius, Lithuania.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gladwell, M. (2002). The tipping point: How little things can make a big difference. New York, NY: Back Bay Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Granovetter, M. S. (1973). Strength of weak ties. The American Journal of Sociology, 78, 1360–1380.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, G. E. (1992). The local educational change process and policy implementation. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 29, 877–904.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall, G. E., & Hord, S. M. (2015). Implementing change: Patterns, principles and potholes (4th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Henrichsen, L. (1989). The diffusion of innovations in English language teaching: The ELEC efforts in Japan, 1956–1968. NY: Greenwood Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hofstede, G. (2001). Culture’s consequences: Comparing values, behaviors, institutions, and organizations across nations (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huberman, M. (1983). The role of teacher education in the improvement of educational practice: A linkage model. European Journal of Teacher Education, 6(1), 17–29.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hunkins, F. P., & Ornstein, A. C. (1989). Curriculum innovation and implementation. Education and Urban Society, 22(1), 105–114.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jung, C. G. (1967). Two essays in analytical psychology. In G. Adler & R. F. C. Hull (Eds.), Collected works (Vol. 7). Princeton: Princeton University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kamau, L. Z. (2014). Applied behavior analysis based interventions in public schools: Understanding factors that hinder adoption, implementation and maintenance (p. 158). Boston: Northeastern University.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karasavvidis, I. (2009). Activity theory as a conceptual framework for understanding teacher approaches to information and communication technologies. Computers in Education, 53, 436–444.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kinnunen, J. (1996). Gabriel Tarde as a founding father of innovation diffusion research. Acta Sociologica, 39, 431–442.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirton, M. J. (2003). Adaption-innovation: In the context of diversity and change. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, M., Sayama, H., Faratin, P., & Bar-Yam, Y. (2003). The dynamics of collaborative design: Insights from complex systems and negotiation research. Concurrent Engineering: Research and Applications (CERA J), 11(3), 201–209.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Leejoeiwara, B. (2013). Modeling adoption intention of online education in Thailand using the extended decomposed theory of planned behavior (DTPB). AU Journal of Management, 11, 13–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leithwood, K. A., & Montgomery, D. J. (1980). Evaluating program implementation. Evaluation Review, 4, 193–214.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mansilla, V. B., & Jackson, A. (2011). Educating for global competence: Preparing our youth to engage the world. NY: Asia Society.

    Google Scholar 

  • Markee, N. (1997). SLA research: A resource for changing teachers’ professional cultures? The Modern Language Journal, 81, 80–93.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCracken, G. (1988). The long interview. Newbury Park, CA: SAGE.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Miles, M. B. (1969). The development of innovative climates in educational organizations (Eric Document Reproduction Service No. ED 030 971). Menlo Park, CA: Stanford Research Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mort, P. R., & Cornell, F. G. (1941). American schools in transition: How our schools adapt their practices to changing needs, a study of Pennsylvania. New York: Teachers College.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mort, P. R., & Vincent, W. M. (1954). Introduction to American education. NY: McGraw-Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nicolescu, B. N., & Petrescu, T. C. (2013). Dynamical systems theory: A powerful tool in the educational sciences. Procedia—Social and Behavioral Sciences, 76, 581–587.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, E. (1962). Diffusion of innovations. New York: Free Press of Glencoe.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). NY: The Free Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, E. M., & Jain, N. (1968). Needed research on diffusion within educational organizations (ERIC document reproduction service no. ED 017 740).

    Google Scholar 

  • Rogers, E. M., Medina, U. E., Rivera, M. A., & Wiley, C. J. (2005). Complex adaptive systems and the diffusion of innovations. The Innovation Journal: The Public Sector Innovation Journal, 10, 1–26.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ryan, B., & Gross, N. C. (1943). The diffusion of hybrid seed corn in two Iowa communities. Rural Sociology, 8, 15–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tang, H.-W. V., Chang, K., & Sheu, R.-S. (2015). Critical factors for implementing a programme for international MICE professionals: A hybrid MCDM model combining DEMATEL and ANP. Current Issues in Tourism. doi: 10.1080/13683500.2015.1053848

  • Tarde, G. (1903). The laws of imitation. Gloucester, MA: Peter Smith by permission of Henry Holt & Company.

    Google Scholar 

  • Teilhard de Chardin, P. (2008). The phenomenon of man (original published in 1959). New York: Harper Perennial.

    Google Scholar 

  • Titova E. A. (2014). The role of communication in introducing innovations in education. Economies et Societes, 11(2). http://www.iupr.ru. Retrieved November 8, 2015.

  • van Lier, L. (2004). The ecology and semiotics of language learning: A sociocultural perspective. Boston: Kluwer Academic.

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Vygotsky, L. S. (1978). Mind in society: The development of higher psychological processes. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vygotsky, L. S. (1986). Thought and language (Rev. ed.). Boston: MIT Press

    Google Scholar 

  • Warford, M. K. (2000). Foreign language teacher educators and the diffusion of educational innovations. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warford, M. K. (2002). Retracing the path to proficiency: FL teacher educators and the ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines. NECTFL Review, 54, 47–54.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warford, M. K. (2005). Testing a diffusion of innovations in education model. The Innovation Journal: The Public Sector Innovation Journal, 10(3), 1–32.

    Google Scholar 

  • Warford, M. K. (2011). The zone of proximal teacher development. Teaching and Teacher Education, 27, 252–258.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Warford, M. K. (2014). Toward a framework for evaluating online instruction in higher education. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 42(4), 333–353.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Buffalo State College, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, 14222, USA

    Mark K. Warford

Authors
  1. Mark K. Warford
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mark K. Warford .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. California State University Sacramento, National Research University Higher School of Economics, Sacramento, California, USA

    Alexander M. Sidorkin

  2. Buffalo State College, Buffalo, New York, USA

    Mark K. Warford

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2017 Springer International Publishing AG

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Warford, M.K. (2017). Educational Innovation Diffusion: Confronting Complexities. In: Sidorkin, A., Warford, M. (eds) Reforms and Innovation in Education. Science, Technology and Innovation Studies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-60246-2_2

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation