The aim of this study is to identify characteristics that can be used to assess early-stage research results by research users and research producers of the advanced biofuel sector. Mainly, it qualitatively explores the perceptions of both research users and research producers regarding their experiences with research results. The study builds on the models of Diffusion of Innovation (DoI), Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and Perceived Characteristics of Innovation (PCI). The findings of this study suggest that the investigated dimensions of DoI, PCI and TAM are applicable to the context of assessing research results with the extra dimension of risk reduction. In particular, some of the criteria used to assess the usefulness of research results are through its originality, scalability and relevance. The findings also suggest that documentation and publication are important to research users: Research users assess ease of use based on the presentation of the research results in their documentation; and they assess the quality of research results based on publications and the reputation of researchers. The findings of this study can be used to tailor research results to research users’ needs, which in turn can be expected to improve the uptake and further development of research results. This will not only permit the push of scientific research results to research users only put also permit research users to inform research needs.

Pourquoi certaines innovations réussissent alors que d’autres échouent ?Dans la littérature marketing, il est largement accepté que l’adoption d’un nouveau produit peut être influencée par le phénomène de la contagion sociale, c’est-à-dire par le phénomène d’imitation des comportements des autres membres du système social. Les recherches en marketing se sont donc intéressées à étudier empiriquement l’impact de la contagion sociale sur l’adoption des innovations. Or, le succès d’une innovation ne s’apprécie pas uniquement par son adoption mais aussi par la continuité de son utilisation. Ainsi, notre étude s’intéresse non seulement au premier achat mais aussi à la continuité d’utilisation de l’innovation technologique. En effet, l’analyse du comportement du consommateur sur le long terme permet de s’assurer de sa satisfaction et de la pérennité des entreprises.Pour ce faire, Nous avions mené une étude quantitative. A cet effet, un questionnaire de recherche a été élaboré et administré auprès d’un échantillon de 593 individus. Les résultats des analyses à équations simultanées montrent le rôle du leadership d’opinion ainsi que des caractéristiques perçues dans les comportements d’adoption et de continuité d’utilisation. Notre recherche contribue donc au développement des connaissances dans le domaine d’adoption et de diffusion de l’innovation et conduit à un certain nombre de recommandations managériales. / Why some innovations succeed and others fail?In the marketing literature, it is widely accepted that the adoption of a new product can be influenced by the phenomenon of social contagion, that is, the phenomenon of imitation of the behavior of other members of the social system. Marketing research was therefore interested to empirically study the impact of social contagion on the adoption of innovations. However, the success of an innovation is not only appreciated by its adoption but also its continued use. Thus, our study looks not only at the first purchase but also the continuity of use of technological innovation. Indeed, consumer behavior analysis in the long run will ensure their satisfaction and sustainability of companies.In order to do so, we had conducted a quantitative study. For this purpose, a research questionnaire was developed and administered to a sample of 593 individuals. The results of analysis with simultaneous equations show the role of opinion leadership and the perceived characteristics of innovation in the behavior of adoption and continuity of use. Our research contributes to the development of knowledge in the field of adoption and diffusion of innovation and leads to a number of managerial recommendations.

Doctor of Philosophy / Department of Apparel, Textiles, and Interior Design / Melody L. A. LeHew / The relationship between knowledge, attitudes and behavior has been a subject of interest for researchers for several decades in various fields of study. However, an inconsistency has been found from one study to another with literature showing inconclusive and inconsistent results regarding the relationship between knowledge, attitudes and behavior in general and purchase of eco-conscious apparel in particular. Literature also found perceived characteristics of innovation (PCI) to significantly influencing innovation adoption. However, research investigating the influence of eco-conscious apparel knowledge (EAK) and eco-conscious apparel attitudes (EAA) on intention to purchase eco-conscious apparel (IPEA) that includes PCI has not been conducted in any previously published studies. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the influential relationship between EAK-EAA-IPEA to understand if including PCI strengthens the inconsistent link between knowledge, attitudes and behavior as well as enhances the predictability of IPEA. The model of stages in the innovation-decision process developed by Roger’s (1983) in the diffusion of innovation theory was used as a theoretical framework for developing the model of innovation-decision process for eco-conscious apparel. Specifically, the three product characteristics used in this current study were based on the PCI (i.e., complexity, compatibility and relative advantage) explained by Rogers (1983) in his model. Two objectives were developed and tested using six research questions and pertinent hypotheses. The research relied on quantitative analysis of responses from 592 respondents to an online survey with eco-conscious knowledge, attitude and behavior questions pertaining eco-conscious apparel products. Hierarchical regression analysis, t-test and correlation analysis reveal that, inclusion of PCI significantly strengthened relationship between EAK-EAA-IPEA and also enhanced the predictability of IPEA; the ability to predict IPEA as well as strength of the link between EAK-EAA-IPEA was greater when more information was provided about eco-conscious apparel than less information; respondents have limited EAK; EAK was not a good predictor of IPEA; EAA was found to significantly predict IPEA; highly innovative respondents perceive eco-conscious apparel less complex and highly compatible and are more likely to purchase eco-conscious apparel; all three PCI were found to significantly predict IPEA; demographic variables were found to be related to only certain variables in this study.

臍帶血幹細胞移植自1988年首次被應用在異體的臨床治療至今，在各國衍生出許多以「利他」為目的的公捐臍帶血庫，以及鼓吹「自存自用」的私人臍帶血銀行。類似的情況也在台灣發生，第一家私人公益臍帶血庫在1997年底成立，第一家私人臍帶血銀行在2000年8月成立。然而，有關臍帶血儲存在台灣的發展歷史，卻甚少被討論。本論文嘗試以「創新的擴散」的四大因素—創新、溝通管道、時間及社會體系，詮釋自費儲存臍帶血在台灣的擴散過程和實質的內涵。 藉由中國時報報系和聯合報系有關臍帶血儲存的相關報導，估算出台灣自費儲存臍帶血的接受率在時間軸上的變化，發現台灣自費儲存臍帶血的接受率從2000年到2004年快速地成長，2004年以後成長趨緩。另外，從資料蒐集、文獻整理，以及台灣最大的親子社群網站”Babyhome”(寶貝家庭親子網)中有關臍帶血儲存的相關議題討論，觀察到台灣社會體系中的主管機關、私人臍帶血銀行、醫界和學界、公捐血庫、媒體等各成員之間的互動，直接或間接地影響潛在接受者對自費儲存臍帶血的意願和認知。在創新和溝通管道的探討中，則利用初探性質的網路問卷調查，探索台灣的接受者對於自費儲存臍帶血的創新認知屬性和資訊來源的溝通管道，並歸納出台灣的接受者對於自費儲存臍帶血的主要認知為：相容於「保險」的概念，以及代表「心安」的相對優勢。 是否應該自費儲存臍帶血實為一爭議性的話題，本研究也透過以上的分析，探討自費儲存臍帶血在台灣擴散所造成的後果並提出相關建議，期望台灣社會體系能夠從自費儲存臍帶血的擴散中，獲得創新的最大的利益又不至於造成社會體系的瓦解。 / Since the first umbilical cord blood transplant was performed in 1988 for allogeneic transplantation, many cord blood banks came out in countries, including public cord blood banks for an altruistic purpose and private blood banks which claim to bank umbilical cord blood for autologous use. Similar cases happened in Taiwan, the first public cord blood bank run by a private organization was founded in the end of 1997, then the first private cord blood bank was founded in August 2000. The history about banking umbilical cord blood in Taiwan, however, is rarely discussed. Based on the four main elements of “Diffusion of Innovations”, innovation, communication channels, time and social system, this study attempts to interpret the diffusion and substantial content of banking umbilical cord blood for autologous use in Taiwan. I estimated the adoption rate of banking umbilical cord blood for autologous use in Taiwan in the course of time by searching news reports from the databases of China Times Inc. and United Daily News Group. The adoption rate grown rapidly from 2000 to 2004 and the growth became slowly after 2004. By data collection, the survey of literatures and searching the relevant topics about storing umbilical cord blood from BabyHome, the biggest social networking website for parent-child relationship in Taiwan, I also found that the interaction among authority body, private cord blood bank, medical professional bodies, public cord blood bank and media, which are the members of Taiwan social system would affect the cognition and willingness of potential adopters directly or indirectly. In addition, I used a pilot online- questionnaire to explore the characteristics of innovation and communication channels of banking umbilical cord blood in Taiwan, which concludes that, the main characteristics of innovation sensed by the adopter who banking umbilical cord blood in Taiwan are compatibility with the concept of insurance and the relative advantage of feeling at ease. To store or not to store umbilical cord blood in private cord blood bank is actually a controversial issue. Through the analysis described above, the consequence of banking umbilical cord blood diffused in Taiwan is studied. I also make some suggestions and hope that Taiwan social system could gain the maximum social benefit from the diffusion of banking umbilical cord blood, and would not collapse by it.

Digital video recorders have given a growing number of viewers the ability to skip television commercials. In an effort to combat ad-skipping, television providers and advertisers are looking at ways to embed advertising into the video content; one way this can be accomplished is with graphic overlays known as snipes. Little is known about how content providers use snipes and what research they have conducted. This study is qualitative and uses long telephone interviews with 8 respondents from various cable television network and broadcast affiliate stations; examining the characteristics of innovation, as found in Rogers's (1995) diffussion of innovation theory. One discovery is that some cable networks are taking measures to ensure that snipes do not appear during emotional moments in the narrative. The study is the first piece of academic research dedicated to understanding how snipes are used and stands as a foundation for future research on the subject.

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