Types of Diffusion

Hierarchical diffusion

• Involves the actual movement of the original adopters from their point of origin, or hearth, to a new place

• Occurs when the innovative idea diffuses from its hearth outward, but the original idea is changed by the new adopters

• Occurs when numerous places or people near the point of origin become adopters (or infected, in the case of a disease)

• Occurs when the diffusion innovation or concept spreads from a place or person of power or high susceptibility to another in a leveled pattern

New trends in clothing styles might originate in big cities like Paris, London, or New York. Then, they might spread to smaller cities like Boston, Chicago, or Seattle. From there, they spread to smaller towns.

• Hierarchical diffusion

• Relocation diffusion

• Expansion diffusion

• Contagious diffusion

The term “cultural diffusion” refers to the

• modification of Earth’s surface by human actions

• integration of behavioral traits within a group

• spread of an idea or innovation from its source

• relationship between human cultures and their physical environment

Chinese porcelain was highly valued in Europe for its beauty, style, and durability. However, imported porcelain from China was very expensive. Crafters in Germany and England developed new methods of making porcelain using feldspar and bone rather than the kaolin that was used in China. This new porcelain was viewed as having similar quality to Chinese porcelain, and the new methods continued to be used in Europe.

This example describes what type of diffusion?

• Relocation diffusion, because the Chinese brought their porcelain to Europe

• Stimulus diffusion, because the Europeans adapted a Chinese concept to fit their own needs

• Contagious diffusion, because people throughout the world adopted the use of porcelain

• Hierarchical diffusion, because only the wealthy could afford porcelain

Sometimes a diffusion process encounters barriers that slow or stop the spread of an innovation. Which of the following is an example of such a barrier?

• A lack of infrastructure to support a new technology

• A change in the price of energy

• A jump from contagious to hierarchical diffusion

• A transition from stimulus to contagious diffusion

Which of the following scenarios best exemplifies the concept of hierarchical diffusion?

• The practice of selling pizza by the slice in America, whereas pizzas in Italy were traditionally sold as whole pies

• The addition of hands-free driving features to cars manufactured by companies headquartered throughout the world

• The increasing sales of clothing brands endorsed by professional athletes to customers in Europe

• The migration of asylum seekers from Syria to Europe

The spread of the use of chopsticks into Southeast Asian countries with the influx of Chinese immigrants is an example of which of the following concepts?

• Stimulus diffusion

• Hierarchical diffusion

• Acculturation

• Relocation diffusion

What type of diffusion is this?

• Relocation diffusion

• Stimulus diffusion

• Hierarchical diffusion

• Contagious diffusion

What type of diffusion is this?

• Relocation diffusion

• Stimulus diffusion

• Hierarchical diffusion

• Contagious diffusion

Which of the following is not a form of expansion diffusion?

• Hierarchical

• Stimulus

• Contagious

• Relocation