Diffusion Research Symposium 2025
Keynote Speakers
Jim Dearing, Ph.D.
Bringing Scale Up Concepts to Bear on Designing for Diffusion
Intervention diffusion strategy that commonly uses formative assessments of perceived innovation attributes, the structure of relationships among potential adopters, and contextual considerations of launch timing and framing can be augmented with concepts from studies of successful scale up of social programs. This talk will integrate these two research traditions for practical design strategy.
Gary L. Kreps, Ph.D.
Applying the Diffusion of Innovations Model to Studying the Adoption and Use of New Communication Technology
As modern life evolves, we increasingly depend on the use of smart, adaptive, learning technology systems that enable us to access, process, and share relevant information for guiding complex decisions concerning the best responses to serious societal challenges. These societal challenges involve major threats to our natural and built environment, physical and mental health, economic stability, and international relations, including the advent of serious risks and crises from pandemics, wildfires, hurricanes, acts of terrorism, and violent military conflicts that occur around the globe. We must learn how to effectively use powerful new computing technologies to help us make sense of major risks, develop and share relevant strategies for responding to these challenges, and implement collaborative strategies for minimizing risks from new challenges that we may encounter in the future. In this presentation I will examine how I have been able to use the Diffusion of Innovation paradigm to guide analysis of adoption and effective use of new information technologies for addressing major challenges in modern life and suggest additional research and policy applications of this powerful theoretical perspective.