GOY, BOB WILLIAM; MA

                         YORK UNIVERSITY (CANADA), 1994
 
                         SOCIOLOGY, SOCIAL STRUCTURE AND DEVELOPMENT (0700); GEOGRAPHY (0366); ENERGY
                         (0791); SOCIOLOGY, PUBLIC AND SOCIAL WELFARE (0630)
 

                         This thesis is concerned with techniques of a priori project evaluation and early monitoring of a pilot
                         project as steps to ensuring greater likelihood of the diffusion of an innovation. Development projects in
                         the Third World often introduce innovations with the intention of having them adopted and subsequently
                         diffused; however, despite the apparent virtues of these innovations, diffusion fails to occur in many
                         cases. One of the reasons for this outcome may be the general lack of donor understanding regarding
                         the perceptions, attitudes and expressed needs of the local recipients, and their early responses to an
                         innovation. In 1993, a pilot development project introduced box-type solar cookers into three rural
                         communities in Kenya. This study comprises an external review of the goals, methods and impacts of this
                         project. Data were collected that identified various social and household characteristics, attitudes,
                         perceptions, and perceived needs of the respondents, as well as the economic aspects related to this
                         innovation. Despite the hypothetical advantages of the solar oven, there was little evidence to suggest
                         that adoption and diffusion will occur. It was discovered that there was little or no correlation between the
                         expressed needs of the local people, and those that the solar ovens are intended to address. It is argued
                         that unless there is some compatibility or consistency between these two factors, adoption and diffusion
                         will be most unlikely to occur. Furthermore, it was determined that the economics of solar ovens would
                         significantly restrict their adoption. This thesis serves to illustrate the usefulness of carrying out an early,
                         external evaluation of a pilot development project. Information gained in this way may be used to alter or
                         fine-tune a project in order to improve the chances of adoption and diffusion.
 

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