Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

6-1982

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Psychology

Major Professor

John W. Lounsbury

Committee Members

William Calhoun, William Lyons, J. A. Wiberly

Abstract

The primary purpose of the present study was to investigate perceived social impacts and attitudes toward the 1982 World's Energy Exposition during its development by using concepts derived from research on the diffusion of innovations as presented by Rogers and Shoemaker (1971). A cross-sectional analysis of the project's development as well as the investigation of several changes over time were conducted in order to test the general utility of applying concepts from diffusion of innovation theory to an area traditionally investigated within the conceptual framework of social impact assessment. The theoretical formulations of Rogers and Shoemaker (1971) were utilized to predict support for the Exposition. The concepts studied included the observability, risk and advantages of impacts associated with the Exposition, personal characteristics, and adopter categories.

Data for the study were obtained from surveys conducted in 1979 and 1980. Three hundred thirty-five randomly selected residents of Knoxville, Tennessee participated in the 1979 survey. Three hundred forty-five residents participated in the 1980 survey. The two surveys shared 114 respondents in common, which served as a panel.

Results of the current study showed that personal characteristics and the perceived observability, risk and advantages of social impacts predict support for the Exposition. Knowledge of specific facts about the Exposition did not significantly predict support for the Exposition. The perceived ability to participate in decisions regarding the Exposition predicted support for the Exposition in both years of the survey. The opportunity to participate apparently has relatively long lasting effects in terms of supporting the Exposition. The current study also supported the existence of differences between individuals who maintained their support or opposition to the Exposition and those whose support for the Exposition changed.

The study of large scale community developments which have often been investigated using techniques associated with social impact assessment can benefit from the use of innovation diffusion theory. Such developments would include nuclear power plant construction and water impoundment programs. As these projects become more frequent, psychologists must be increasingly concerned with understanding the impacts of such developments on the community. Innovation diffusion theory offers one more tool with which the community psychologist can further this understanding.

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