Sociology 1025A/B Chapter Notes - Chapter 5: Social System, Germ Theory Of Disease, Opinion Leadership
17 Apr 2018
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The study of adoption and diffusion shows that technologies are not a given but are a result of social, cultural, political, and historical factors. Everett rogers = most influential researcher in the diffusion of innovations. Diffusion of innovations provides a comprehensive overview of diffusion studies. Individuals are members of social groups and the norms, beliefs and attitudes of these groups will shape adoption decisions. Societies located in central areas (medieval islam) are generally more equipped and more receptive to acquiring and adopting new technologies, compared to more geographically isolated regions and societies (tasmania) Technological regression = where new technologies are abandoned (ex, the arrival of guns in japan in 1543 through portuguese traders. Japanese rapidly adopted the weapon, but within a century guns completely disappeared from the island). 3 key mitigating socio- cultural factors against a complete adoption of the gun as a mechanism for war in the.
