Dissemination of Innovation as Social Change

For community psychology, the phrase “dissemination of innovation” implies the use of new social programs or social policies. As such, it also implies the potential for broad-scale change. It typically addresses how individuals and organizations can improve their approach to particular problems. Hence, for community psychologists interested in promoting human welfare, this paradigm offers an approach to the study and creation of social change (e.g., Rappaport, 1977; Fairweather & Davidson, 1986). If solution of a social problem is the goal of an innovation, then dissemination and implementation of that innovation on a wide scale may mean that important steps have been accomplished (Fairweather & Tornatzky, 1977)