Looking at Behavioral Innovativeness: A Rasch Analysis

While there has been research on the diffusion of a particular type of innovation, few if any studies have examined the acceptance of a set of innovations (behavioral innovativeness) over time. This study, using the Rasch methodology, found evidence that computer hardware innovations are adopted in a particular order. The same could not be said for computer software, whose acceptance may be application-based. This study applied a theoretical framework based on the diffusion of innovation literature (Rodgers, 1995). Data was collected via a telephone survey of 302 computer users. Scores obtained from the Rasch analysis were used as the dependent variable (that of behavioral innovativeness) in a regression analysis, against factors such as overall innovativeness, use innovativeness, opinion leadership/acceptance, product class knowledge, and use of sources of information.