ASHLEY, NANCY WINNIFORD; PHD
THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA, 1995
BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, GENERAL (0310); EDUCATION, HIGHER (0745); INFORMATION
SCIENCE (0723); EDUCATION, TECHNOLOGY (0710)
NIR, network information retrieval, is the act of finding and retrieving information
on interconnected
computer networks. The research investigated the extent to which NIR awareness
and use has diffused
through a broad research population, and why and how academics become aware
of and use NIR.
Everett Rogers' diffusion of innovation theory was adapted to guide the investigation.
A survey of 888
faculty members at the University of Arizona with Internet-accessible computer
accounts resulted in a
32% return of surveys. Respondents from the various colleges at the university
use between 20% and
39% of available NIR technologies, suggesting that NIR is in an early stage
of diffusion in all colleges.
Twenty-one one hour open-ended interviews were conducted with faculty from a
variety of disciplines.
Analysis of coded interview comments was used to test the usefulness of Rogers'
theory in describing
the diffusion of NIR. Predictions that mass media communication channels which
go outside the local
community will be more likely to result in awareness and use of NIR were not
supported. Predictions that
use of NIR would be associated with the perception that NIR (1) is compatible
with needs and social
norms, and (2) has relative advantage over previous practice, were supported.
The predictions that use
would be associated with perceptions of (1) compatibility with previous conditions,
(2) low NIR
complexity, and (3) trialability of NIR, were not supported. The explanatory
power of the diffusion of
innovation theory is improved for diffusion of NIR if NIR technologies are not
studied in a vacuum. Rather,
NIR technologies need to be studied in association with particular types of
information resources (i.e.
general interest and research-related resources) and particular types of communities
(i.e. research
communities). The study suggests that before NIR will diffuse in research communities,
academics will
need to agree that NIR dissemination of information will be rewarded in the
promotion and tenure
process. Such redefinition of social norms will help to create within research
areas a critical mass of NIR
users, and thus contribute to the diffusion of NIR.
Social
Systems Simulation Group
P.O. Box 6904 San Diego, CA 92166-0904 Roland Werner, Principal Phone/FAX (619) 660-1603 |