Diffusion

=Diffusion=

Proposed Definition
**Definition 8:** Diffusion - process by which a new product or idea attracts the attention and interest of a market and is gradually adopted by the many individuals making up that market. Unlike individual adoption decisions, diffusion is influenced by communication about a product between an ever-widening group of consumers and is affected by the social dynamics of the group. See also adoption process, innovator, innovation, early adopter **Source:** http://www.allbusiness.com/glossaries/diffusion/4966159-1.html **Focus:** Business

Why we chose this definition
It has purpose, medium of change, context, user, and outcome July 1, 2011 media type="custom" key="9953871"

Discussion ([|Join the wiki to comment])

 * Current Definitions (n = 9)**


 * Definition 1:** Diffusion is the process by which a new idea or new product is accepted by the market. The rate of diffusion is the speed that the new idea spreads from one consumer to the next. Adoption is similar to diffusion except that it deals with the psychological processes an individual goes through, rather than an aggregate market process. In economics it is more often named "technological change".
 * Source:** Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusion_%28business%29
 * Focus:** Marketing


 * Definition 2:** The term 'diffusion' or diffusionism is used in cultural anthropology to describe the spread of cultural items — such as ideas, styles, religions, technologies, languages etc. — between individuals, whether within a single culture or from one culture to another.
 * Source:** Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diffusion_%28anthropology%29
 * Focus:** Anthropology


 * Definition 3:** Diffusion - The passive process by which a growing body of information about an intervention, product, or technology is initially absorbed and acted upon by a small body of highly motivated recipients who value the rewards of finding the information and for whom the search costs of finding the information are relatively low (Lomas, 1993). Studies over several decades show that the typical diffusion process follows an S-shaped curve starting with early adopters and ending with laggards. Diffusion is a more passive process than dissemination (Lomas, 1993). As Lomas has noted, the possibility that a particular journal article will reach community physicians by diffusion is low, especially until it has reached the early-stage adopters who are active, information-seeking practitioners and organizations.
 * Source:** National Cancer Institute http://cancercontrol.cancer.gov/d4d/definitions.html
 * Focus:** Health Care (Cancer)


 * Definition 4:** [Diffusion] (also sic dissemination) refers to the spreading of innovations, knowledge, and/or research to individuals, groups, organizations, and in some cases to society at large. It is a term usually used after there has been a decision to adopt an innovation.
 * Source:** Estabrooks CA. Research utilization and qualitative research. In: Morse JM, Swanson JM, Kuzel,A.J., Eds. The Nature of Qualitative Evidence. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications; 2001: 275-298.
 * Focus:** n/a


 * Definition 5:** [Diffusion is] the process by which an innovation is spread through communication channels to members of a social system over time.
 * Source:** Zaltman G, Duncan R, Holbek J. Innovations and organizations. New York: John Wiley & Sons; 1973.
 * Focus:** n/a


 * Definition 6:** [Diffusion] is the process by which an innovation is communicated through certain channels over time among members of a social system.
 * Source:** Greenhalgh T, Robert G, Bate P, Macfarlane F, Kyriakidou O. Diffusion of innovations in health service organizations. Diffusion of innovations. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing Ltd; 2005.
 * Focus:** Health Care


 * Definition 7:** The spread of people, ideas, technology, and products across space and through time.
 * Source:** [|www.mdk12.org/mspp/vsc/social_studies/bygrade/glossary.shtml]
 * Focus:** Social Science

**Definition 8:** diffusion - process by which a new product or idea attracts the attention and interest of a market and is gradually adopted by the many individuals making up that market. Unlike individual adoption decisions, diffusion is influenced by communication about a product between an ever-widening group of consumers and is affected by the social dynamics of the group. See also adoption process, innovator , innovation , early adopter **Source:** http://www.allbusiness.com/glossaries/diffusion/4966159-1.html **Focus:** Business


 * Definition 9 :** -Diffusion ((physics) the process in which there is movement of a substance from an area of high concentration of that substance to an area of lower concentration) -diffusion (the spread of social institutions (and myths and skills) from one society to another) -dissemination, diffusion (the property of being diffused or dispersed) -dispersion, dispersal, dissemination, diffusion (the act of dispersing or diffusing something) "the dispersion of the troops"; "the diffusion of knowledge"
 * Source:** http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=diffusion
 * Focus:** Broad

-diffusion of molecules from high to low concentration -diffusion of culture as it relates to anthropology -diffusion of sound and light waves in audio and visual technology -diffusion as it relates to jewellery coating
 * Note*:** Several definitions for diffusion were omitted from this page as they were deemed irrelevant to KT. Examples include: