It gives brief idea about adoption process and various stages it involves.

1. Adoption process

2. Introduction
Adoption is a decision to make full use of
innovation as a best course of action available
Adoption process according to Rogers,
“adoption process is the mental process
through which an individual passes from
hearing about an innovation to final adoption”.
Adoption process at individual level.

3. Adoption process models and concept
 An innovation diffuses within a social system through its adoption by
individuals and groups.
 The decision to adopt an innovation, however, “is not normally a
single, instantaneous act” , it involves a process.
 The “adoption process” is a decision-making process goes through
a number of mental stages before making a final decision to adopt
an innovation.

4. In their pioneering
work of diffusion of
hybrid corn seed in
two Lowa ’s
communities in the
United States, Ryan
and Gross (1943)
first drew attention
to the existence of a
sequence of stages
in the process of
adoption by farmers
“Awareness”
of the
existence of
an innovation
“Conviction”
of its
usefulness
“Acceptance”
in the sense
of willingness
to try the
innovation
“Complete”
adoption

5.  The existence of an adoption process involving four interrelated
stages was also outline by Wilkening (1953).
 He described that adoption of innovation as a process composed
of learning, deciding and acting over a period of time.
Awareness
Obtaining
information
Conviction Trial adoption

6.  Adoption is essentially a decision-making process.
 According to Johnson and Haver (1955) , decision-making
involves the following steps:-
Observing
the problem
Making
analysis of it
Deciding the
available
course of
action
Taking one
course
Accepting the
consequence
of the
decision

8. Further, it should be remembered that there is no complete agreement
as to the number
of stages in the adoption process, although there is general consensus
on the existence of stages and
that adoption is seldom an impulse decision. For instance Singh and
Pareek (1960) have developed
a seven stage model of the adoption process.
 Need
 Awareness
 Interest
 Deliberation
 Trial
 Evaluation
 adoption

10. The North Central Rural Sociology Subcommittee for the study of
Diffusion of Farm Practices (1955) identified 5 stages of the adoption
process, which received world wide attention . This is the pioneer work
of Beal and Bohen, they are as follows:

12. Awareness
 At this stage an individual becomes aware of some new idea such as maize
hybrid or new pesticide.
 He knows about the existence of the new idea but he lacks details about it.
 For instance, he may know only the name and may not know what the idea
or product is, what it will do or how it will work.

13. Interest
 At the interest stage, a person wants more information about the idea or
product.
 He wants to know what it is, how it works and what its potentialities are.
 He may say to himself that this might help him increase his income, or help
him control insects or diseases or improve farming or home life in some other
way.

14. Evaluation
 At this stage, the individual makes mental application of the new idea to the
present and anticipated future situations and decides whether or not to try it.
 He applies the information obtained in the previous stages to his own
situation.
 At this stage, the individual judges the worth of the innovation.
 The person makes an assessment whether the idea is applicable to own
situation, and if applied what would be the result.
 He asks himself “can I do it? And if I do it, will it be better than I am doing
now; will it increase my income or otherwise bring me satisfaction?”

15. Trial
 The individual actually applies the new idea on a small scale in order to
determine its utility in own situation. If he decides that the idea has
possibilities for him he will try it.
 The trial stage is characterized by small-scale experimental use, and by the
need for specific information which deals with: “How do I do it; how much I do
I use; when do I do it; how can I make it work best for me?”
 Apparently individuals need to test a new idea even though they have thought
about it for a long time and gathered information concerning it. Trial may be
considered as the practical evaluation of the innovation. It provides evidence
of the advantages of the innovation.

16. Trial in the farmers field

17. Adoption
 This final stage in the process is characterized by large scale, continued use
of the idea, and most of all, by satisfaction with the idea.
 Trial may be considered as the practical evaluation of an innovation. It
provides evidence of advantages of the innovation.
 Being satisfied with the trial and considering the pros and cons of the
situation, the individual takes final decision and applies the innovation in a
scale appropriate to own situation on a continued basis.

19. conclusion
 these five stages are not necessarily a rigid pattern which people follow.
 These stages are influenced by cultural differences and social factors as well
as by the kind of practice , place and person.
 At any stage the recommendation can be thrown off. There can be jumping
from one stage to another.
 If the farmers have confidence in the extension worker, and his
recommendations, they may jump form “evaluation” to “adoption” stage.

20. Thank you